2007年VOA标准英语-Blair Announces Partial British Troop Withdrawa

By Sonja Pace
London
21 February 2007

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced a withdrawal¹ of 1,600 British troops from Iraq in the months to come, reducing total British troop strength to 5,500.  Speaking in parliament, the prime minister also said British forces would remain in Iraq into 2008.  VOA's Sonja Pace reports from London.

Tony Blair

Speaking before members of the House of Commons, Mr. Blair announced the initial draw-down of British forces from around Basra in southern Iraq.

"The actual reduction in forces will be from the present 7,100 - itself down from over 9,000 two years ago and 40,000 at the time of the conflict - to roughly 5,500," he said.

Mr. Blair said most of the remaining troops would deploy² to Basra airbase and serve increasingly in a support role with specific tasks.

"Training and support to Iraqi forces, securing the Iraq-Iran border, securing supply routes and above all, the ability to conduct operations against extremist groups and be there in support of the Iraqi army when called upon," he said.

Mr. Blair said the withdrawal and redeployment are possible because of the increased readiness of Iraqi forces to take over control.

The British decision to withdraw some of its forces was made as the United States increases its troop strength by more than 20,000 for stepped up security operations around Baghdad.

Mr. Blair said one could not compare the situation in predominately Shi'ite Basra, where relative calm has prevailed for some time, to Baghdad, which remains³ at the center of sectarian and insurgent⁴ violence with large populations of Shia and Sunni Muslims.

Mr. Blair said he hoped to be able to reduce British troop levels to below 5,000 later this year, but he also said forces would stay in Iraq into 2008 "as long as they are wanted and have a job to do."

As Mr. Blair announced a reduction in British troop levels, Denmark's prime minister announced the withdrawal from southern Iraq of the Danish contingent⁵ of 460 troops by August. 

1 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

2 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

5 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。