2007年VOA标准英语-Bomb Kills Key Iraqi Sheikh

By Meredith Buel
Pentagon
13 September 2007

A roadside bomb has killed an important Sunni tribal¹ leader who was cooperating with U.S. troops fighting al-Qaida insurgents² in Iraq. Sheikh Abdul Sattar Abu Risha and two bodyguards³ died in the attack near his home in Ramadi, the capital of al-Anbar province. VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has details from the Pentagon.

Salvation4 Council, also known as the Anbar Awakening5, 03 Sep 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070915/1033000.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Sheikh Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, 03 Sep 2007

Abu Risha was the leader of the Anbar Salvation Council, also known as Anbar Awakening, an alliance of Sunni clans⁶ backing the Iraqi government and U.S. forces to push al-Qaida fighters out of western Iraq.

President Bush met Abu Risha and other tribal leaders during a highly symbolic⁷ trip to Anbar province on September 3.

Last year, the Sunni sheikhs switched their allegiance from al-Qaida to the Shi'ite-led government in Baghdad.

Mr. Bush said he was pleased with the progress in Anbar, which has gone from one of the most violent, anti-U.S. areas in Iraq to a security success story.

Bryan Whitman (file photo)

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters that Abu Risha's death is a major loss.

"It is a most unfortunate and tragic⁸ loss," said Whitman. "It demonstrates the lengths that the enemies of Iraq will go to to divide Iraq and to deny all Iraqis a better, brighter, more prosperous and peaceful future."

Al-Qaida once controlled large areas of Anbar, but the terrorist network angered local tribal leaders with its indiscriminate killing⁹ of civilians¹⁰ and harsh interpretation¹¹ of Islam.

Abu Risha was part of a group of young sheikhs whose power grew after their elders fled Anbar following the assassination¹² of senior sheikhs by al-Qaida insurgents.

He was instrumental in getting young men to join local police forces, a development that has sharply reduced violence and forced many al-Qaida fighters to flee to other parts of Iraq.

A charismatic figure, Abu Risha lived within the walls of a massive compound that houses several villas¹³, his extended family, camels and palm trees. The compound is guarded by a tank and sits across the street from the largest American military base in Ramadi.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman says his death is a reminder¹⁴ of the continuing resolve needed in Iraq.

"It serves to remind us that the struggle will require continued perseverance¹⁵ of the Iraqi people and the leadership and wisdom of men with the character and vision of the likes of Sheikh Abdul Sattar," said Whitman.

U.S. Gen. David Petraeus testifies before the House Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on the situation of Iraq , 10 Sep 2007

The U.S. military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, highlighted what he called dramatic security gains in Anbar during testimony¹⁶ to the U.S. Congress this week.

Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, says Abu Risha's death will raise questions about U.S. efforts in Anbar.

"Well I think it is really important because the Bush administration has been trying to make an argument that what they are doing is fostering bottom-up reconciliation¹⁷ and the center of that is in al-Anbar," said Katulis.

"Here is a major figure who was killed in an attack, we don't know who has done it, but it raises some serious questions of whether there is truly reconciliation and really sustainable security and stability being created by these efforts on the part of the Bush administration," he added.

General Petraeus called the killing of Abu Risha a terrible loss for Anbar province and all of Iraq.

He says the attack shows al-Qaida in Iraq remains¹⁸ a very dangerous and barbaric enemy.

1 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

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 bodyguards   

n.保镖，卫士，警卫员( bodyguard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks came to Jim's office accompanied—like always—by his two bodyguards. 和往常一样，在两名保镖的陪同下，布鲁克斯去吉姆的办公室。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Three of his bodyguards were injured in the attack. 在这次袭击事件中，他有3名保镖受了伤。 来自辞典例句

4 salvation   

n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困

参考例句：

• Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
• Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。

5 awakening   

n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的

参考例句：

• the awakening of interest in the environment 对环境产生的兴趣
• People are gradually awakening to their rights. 人们正逐渐意识到自己的权利。

6 clans   

宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派

参考例句：

• There are many clans in European countries. 欧洲国家有很多党派。
• The women were the great power among the clans [gentes], as everywhere else. 妇女在克兰〈氏族〉里，乃至一般在任何地方，都有很大的势力。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源

7 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

8 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

9 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。

10 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

11 interpretation   

n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理

参考例句：

• His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
• Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。

12 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

13 villas   

别墅，公馆( villa的名词复数 )； （城郊）住宅

参考例句：

• Magnificent villas are found throughout Italy. 在意大利到处可看到豪华的别墅。
• Rich men came down from wealthy Rome to build sea-side villas. 有钱人从富有的罗马来到这儿建造海滨别墅。

14 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

15 perseverance   

n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• It may take some perseverance to find the right people.要找到合适的人也许需要有点锲而不舍的精神。
• Perseverance leads to success.有恒心就能胜利。

16 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

17 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

18 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。