VOA常速英语2017--美国呼吁加快剿灭IS的步伐

The campaign against ISIS has dramatically accelerated over the past six months. Since 2014, when ISIS was at the height of its power, the group has lost about 78 percent of the territory it used to hold in Iraq, and about 58 percent of the territory it used to hold in Syria. They can no longer operate there.

过去半年来，打击IS的行动有了大幅加速。自2014年IS如日中天以后，该组织就失去了其在伊拉克占领的78%的领土以及其在叙利亚占领的58%的领土。IS在这两个地方已经难以为继了。

Nearly 30 percent of all the territory that has been retaken from ISIS – about 20,000 square kilometers – has actually happened in the last six months, said Special Presidential Envoy¹ for the Global Coalition² To Counter ISIS, Brett McGurk at a recent press conference. Importantly, of all that territory that they have lost, they have not regained³:

从IS手中收复的近30%的领土——大概有2万平方公里——实际上在过去六个月中已有收复的迹象，全球反IS联盟的总统特使麦吉尔克(Brett McGurk)在最近的一次新闻发布会上如是说道。重要的是，他们没能重新霸占失去的领土。

They have never been able to retake any of this ground and we're going to make sure that that continues. Importantly – not just territory, but even more important, people. Five – almost 5 million people who had been living under ISIS are no longer living under ISIS. They have been liberated⁴ by coalition-enabled operations on the ground.

他们未能夺回失去的领土，而且我们也将确保他们夺不回失去的领土。重要的不只是领土，比领土更重要的是人民。近500万曾生活在IS铁蹄之下的人现在已经脱离苦海。他们在联军行动的帮助下获得了自由。

This change is due to four key changes that were put in place very early in the administration of President Donald Trump⁵, said Special Envoy McGurk.

这一变化是特朗普政府上任之初做出4个关键性变革的结果，特使麦吉尔克如是说道。

First, the White House delegated tactical authority, from Washington, down through the chain of command to our commanders on the ground. That has made a tremendous difference in our ability to seize opportunities from ISIS.

首先，美国政府将战略授权从华盛顿通过指挥系统传送到战地的指挥官那里。这让我们从IS那里夺取机会的能力有了很大的转变。

Second, we now conduct a campaign of annihilation. Prior to a military operation, we surround the enemy so that foreign fighters in particular cannot escape. Every foreign fighter that made its way into Syria and Iraq, we want to make sure that they can never make their way out of Syria and Iraq, said Mr. McGurk.

其二，我们现在正在进行剿灭计划。在进行某个军事行动之前，我们会包围敌人，让敌人（尤其是海外的IS战士）无处可逃。凡是进入叙利亚和伊拉克境内的海外IS战士，我们想要保证他们无法离开这里，麦吉尔克如是说道。

Third, we look for ways to increase our burden-sharing from the coalition. In other words, every member contributes.

其三，我们寻求途径来分担联盟的负担。换句话说，每个联盟成员国都应该出力。

And finally, we engage every part of our government in the process to attack the enemy on every front, said Mr. McGurk.

最后，在这个过程中，我们动员整个政府在每个战线上攻击IS，麦吉尔克如是说道。

We're taking advantage of opportunities, working not just in Iraq and Syria, but also to sever⁶ the financial connections and propaganda networks that continue to fuel terrorist groups like this.

我们正在利用各种机会，包括在伊拉克和叙利亚行动的机会，也包括切断IS财务联系和宣传网络的机会，让类似IS这样的恐怖组织难以为继。

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 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。

3 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。

4 liberated   

a.无拘束的，放纵的

参考例句：

• The city was liberated by the advancing army. 军队向前挺进，解放了那座城市。
• The heat brings about a chemical reaction, and oxygen is liberated. 热量引起化学反应，释放出氧气。

5 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

6 sever   

v.切开，割开；断绝，中断

参考例句：

• She wanted to sever all her connections with the firm.她想断绝和那家公司的所有联系。
• We must never sever the cultural vein of our nation.我们不能割断民族的文化血脉。