VOA标准英语2009年-Gates Cites Arab-Kurd Progress in Iraq

U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Robert Gates says Iraqi Arab and Kurdish leaders have made progress in recent weeks toward resolving their differences over power sharing and the status of the city of Kirkuk. Gates met Friday with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad and with Kurdish President Masoud Barzani at his regional capital, Irbil.

Al Pessin | Irbil, Iraq 11 December 2009
 

Secretary Gates speaks to US troops at Forward Operating Base Warrior², 11 Dec 2009

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says Iraqi Arab and Kurdish leaders have made progress in recent weeks toward resolving their differences over power sharing and the status of the city of Kirkuk. Gates met Friday with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad and with Kurdish President Masoud Barzani at his regional capital, Irbil. 

In-between the meetings in Baghdad and Irbil, Secretary Gates stopped at a U.S. airbase near the disputed city of Kirkuk, where he told several hundred American troops he sees signs of progress toward resolving Iraq's Arab-Kurd dispute.  "I actually think they've made some real headway in recent weeks," he said.

Answering a question from one of the American soldiers, Gates called Iraq's Arab-Kurd issue "perhaps the most worrisome" in the country.  But he said he believes it can be resolved without violence. "There is no question that the Kurds see their future as part of a unified³ Iraq.  And what's at issue is the terms on which that goes forward.  That's negotiable.  And we'll do what we can.  But at this point, all the evidence that we see indicates that they will work out these differences.  And to the degree we can help, we will do that," he said.

U.S. officials who attended the meetings say Secretary Gates urged Prime Minister Maliki and regional President Barzani to ensure the new parliament forms a government in a "timely and inclusive" manner after the March 7 election.  Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell says Gates urged both leaders to avoid a repetition of the "painful memory" of the five-month government formation process in 2005.  U.S. officials are concerned such a prolonged political process will create an opening for al-Qaida to try to foment⁴ ethnic⁵ strife⁶, just as tens of thousands of U.S. troops are scheduled to be leaving Iraq.

Morrell quoted Gates as telling President Barzani the United States has a long-term commitment to Kurdish "security, prosperity and autonomy within a united Iraq."  And he urged the Kurdish leader to continue to pursue improved relations with Baghdad.

On Thursday, the number two U.S. commander in Iraq, Lieutenant⁷ General Charles Jacoby, said the improved cooperation between Prime Minister Maliki and President Barzani has led to reduced tension between the Iraqi Army and the Kurdish Peshmerga force. "The act of interest and trust of those two leaders has led to greater cooperation within the disputed internal boundaries amongst all parties.  And we have not had the kinds of friction⁸ that's been seen in the past.  In fact, it's been a very solid relationship," he said.

General Jacoby says the Iraqi and Kurdish forces have begun to put aside political differences and, with American help, start to build what he called "a security architecture."

U.S. officials say they are in a better position to mediate⁹ and press for the resolution of difficult issues while the United States has a sizable military force in Iraq.

That force is scheduled to be reduced from nearly 120,000 now to 50,000 by next October, and to zero by the end of 2011, although Secretary Gates said Friday there could be a follow-on agreement for some U.S. troops to stay, particularly elements of the Air Force.  Gates said he expects the Iraqi Arab and Kurdish leaders to settle their disagreements in what he called a "timely fashion," that will not affect the U.S. withdrawal¹⁰ timeline.
 

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

3 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

4 foment   

v.煽动，助长

参考例句：

• The rebels know the truth and seek to foment revolution.那些叛乱者知道真相，并且想办法来挑起革命。
• That's an attempt to foment discord.这是挑拨。

5 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。

6 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

7 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。

8 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

9 mediate   

vi.调解，斡旋；vt.经调解解决；经斡旋促成

参考例句：

• The state must mediate the struggle for water resources.政府必须通过调解来解决对水资源的争夺。
• They may be able to mediate between parties with different interests.他们也许能在不同利益政党之间进行斡旋。

10 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。