VOA常速英语2008年-Iraqi Government: Mistrust Slowing Political Pr

By Daniel Schearf
Irbil
14 March 2008

The Iraqi government says a lack of trust between politicians is slowing progress on national reconciliation¹.  Critics have warned the government needs to start providing much needed social services to Iraqis or risk losing recent security gains.  Daniel Schearf reports from the northern Iraqi city of Irbil.

The spokesman for the Iraqi government, Ali al-Dabbagh, told VOA Friday he agreed with critics that political reforms were too slow in coming.

The head of U.S. forces in Iraq, General Petraeus was quoted in The Washington Post newspaper saying he was not satisfied with the pace of political progress in Iraq.

Al-Dabbagh says that nobody is happy with the situation.

"There is a lack of trust between the political parties and this is reflecting in the council of representatives and reflecting in the government," he said.

Nonetheless, some progress has been made.

Iraq this year passed key laws on the federal budget and a general amnesty for political prisoners arrested after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

The two laws were part of a series of measures aimed at showing support for and building trust between Iraq's divided religious and ethnic² groups.

But, Iraq's Presidential Council rejected a law establishing provincial³ elections, sending it back to parliament for re-drafting.

Another law concerning investment and revenue sharing of Iraq's vast oil reserves has long been delayed.

Al-Dabbagh says passing those two laws is the next step for reconciliation.   

"The oil law could improve the situation economically here in Iraq," he said.  "More companies will come so more job could be created and this will make the situation much better."

U.S. and Iraqi leaders have warned the government must drastically improve basic social services to prevent Iraqis from losing hope in the new Iraq and joining insurgent⁴ groups.

1 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。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

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。