2007年VOA标准英语-Petraeus, Crocker Reports Fuel Debate

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
11 September 2007

The reports by the top U.S. military officer in Iraq and the U.S. ambassador provided fuel to both supporters of the current policy and its opponents. VOA Pentagon Correspondent Al Pessin spoke¹ to some of them and filed this report.

From right: Senator Joseph Biden, Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus, 11 Sep 2007

General David Petraeus said he needs to keep nearly all the 160,000 U.S. troops he has in Iraq until next spring, but probably can move forward with reductions at that time. Ambassador Ryan Crocker said there has been progress among Iraqi politicians, but some of the most promising² developments may not be visible from Washington.

They recommended continuing the current military and diplomatic strategy at least for another six months, and making a new assessment³ in March.

"These reports are not going to convince anybody," said Marina Ottaway.

Analyst⁴ Marina Ottaway at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is among those not convinced.

"When Ambassador Crocker said we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel even if the benchmarks have not been met, I think he's expressing a wish and not a hard fact," said Ottaway.

On the military side, retired⁵ Lieutenant⁶ General Robert Gard of the group Veterans for America doubts there has been as much progress as General Petraeus claims.

"Evidence is pretty clear that generally speaking attacks have not reduced to the extent claimed," "But in a sense that isn't very relevant because the whole purpose of the surge was breathing time for political progress, which has not occurred."

But at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington research organization, conservative analyst Brian Darling believes General Petraeus when he says the surge is achieving its military goals, and he councils more patience on the political front.

"It's true that the Iraqi government has not shown signs of progress sufficient for the American people, for Congress and for President Bush," said Darling. "But militarily we're doing what we need to do. We're doing our best to help create a situation in Iraq where stability will grow over a period of time."

Darling says establishing stability in Iraq is important for U.S. national security, and he is willing to be patient if that takes more time than Americans would like.

"If General Petraeus and others feel that they need to keep troops there longer, or need even more troops, we need to make sure that our generals and our military men and women have that flexibility," he said. "It shouldn't matter how long it takes. If it takes six months, which is probably unrealistic, then that should be appropriate. If it takes a year, that should be appropriate. If it takes ten years."

Marina Ottaway disagrees.

"It would be important for the United States to leave as stable an Iraq as possible behind," said Ottaway. "But if the present policy is not leading to stability, staying longer is not going to change the situation."

The retired general, Robert Gard, who served in the Korea and Vietnam Wars, has a similar view. But he disagrees with some activists⁷ who have questioned General Petraeus' honesty as he presented his progress report.

"Quite naturally, one tends to look at the positive aspects of events, in order to encourage himself as well as his troops," said Gard. "I do not accuse Petraeus of any dishonesty. He's a human being, and he's a military human being that wants to accomplish the mission."

President Bush is expected to endorse⁸ the recommendations by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker in a speech to the nation later this week. After that, the debate over his policy will go on.

But analysts⁹ say the Congress, even though it is controlled by the Democratic Party, will not be able to do anything to change the policy. So after all the anticipation¹⁰ connected to these reports, little change is expected to U.S. policy, and a new round of anticipation can begin, leading up to the next set of reports in March.

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

3 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

5 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

6 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

7 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

9 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

10 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。