2007年VOA标准英语-US: Iraqi Insurgents Intentionally Kill Childre

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
20 March 2007

A senior U.S. military officer says insurgents² in Iraq used two children to help them pass a coalition³ checkpoint in Baghdad in recent days, and then detonated a car bomb, killing⁴ the children.  The officer reported the incident during a news conference at the Pentagon, and VOA's Al Pessin reports.

 
Major General Michael Barbero (2006 photo)
Major General Michael Barbero says this is the first time he has heard of insurgents using what he called this brutal⁵ and ruthless technique.

"We saw a vehicle with two children in the back seat come up to one of our checkpoints, get stopped by our folks, the children in the back seat lowered suspicion, we let it move through," he said.  "They parked the vehicle, the adults ran out and detonated with the children in the back."

The general said the incident happened in Baghdad during the weekend, but he could not provide any further details.  Later, other U.S. officials said the attack was on Sunday at a market in Baghdad's Amadiya neighborhood, and that five people were killed and seven were injured.

 
A boy stands by cars destroyed after a car bomb exploded in central Baghdad, Iraq, 20 Mar¹ 2007
General Barbero also reported Iraqi insurgents have used six chlorine bombs since late January, mainly in western al-Anbar Province.  Three of the chlorine bombings were used this past weekend, and General Barbero said he expects more because the chemical is readily available in Iraq.  The general called the chlorine bombs "relatively⁶ ineffective," although one of the bombs made hundreds of people sick.

General Barbero, who is the deputy operations director for the Joint⁷ Chiefs of Staff, also said the increase of U.S. and Iraqi forces in Baghdad is on schedule and is beginning to have some impact.  He said security posts are being established and ordinary Iraqis are being more cooperative to U.S. and Iraqi forces.  He noted⁸ particularly the Sadr City neighborhood of Baghdad, a stronghold of militant⁹ Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

"There has been a pretty dramatic change in Sadr City over the last few weeks," he added.  "We are able to operate freely in there.  We have joint security stations established, a medical clinic, and we're operating freely in there, where before we were not."

General Barbero said the U.S. military believes Moqtada al-Sadr is still in Iran, where he has been on an extended visit.  And the general indicated that some sort of negotiations¹⁰ are under way with officials in his movement to try to end their insurgency¹¹.

"I think where we are with the leaders of his movement is at a pretty delicate point and I probably don't want to talk any more about his followers¹², where we are in our relationship with them," he explained.  "That's probably best left unsaid."

General Barbero said anyone is welcome to participate in Iraq's political process if they contribute to stability and security, including Moqtada al-Sadr.  In the past, the U.S. military accused al-Sadr of responsibility for the deaths of U.S. troops, and wanted him arrested.

 

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

5 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

7 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

10 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

11 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

12 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。