US Announces First Court Martial in Iraqi Prisoner Abuse Sca

Michael Bowman

Senior U.S. military officials have announced the first court martial¹ procedure against one of seven American soldiers who allegedly abused detainees at Iraq's now-infamous Abu Ghraib prison.

In a Baghdad news conference Sunday, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said Specialist Jeremy Sivits, a low ranking soldier, will face American military justice later this month.

"Charges were referred against Specialist Jeremy Sivits to a special court martial empowered to adjudge a bad conduct discharge," he said. "The three charges against Specialist Sivits are: conspiracy² to maltreat subordinates and detainees, dereliction of duty for negligently³ failing to protect detainees from abuse, cruelty and maltreatment, and maltreatment of detainees."

The military trial is scheduled for May 19, and is expected to be held in the same large Baghdad complex where General Kimmitt and other U.S. officials hold regular news briefings. The general said the procedure would go forward in an open and transparent⁴ manner.

Specialist Sivits and other U.S. soldiers who performed guard duties at Abu Ghraib prison are accused of humiliating and torturing Iraqi detainees.

Graphic⁵ photographs of the treatment have sparked outrage⁶ and provoked widespread condemnation⁷. Another picture has surfaced on the Internet site of the New Yorker magazine showing guards with attack dogs apparently⁸ taunting¹⁰ and threatening a naked prisoner.

President Bush and Defense¹¹ Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have expressed deep regret for the abuse, but said they remain committed to U.S. goals for a peaceful, democratic Iraq.

For many, apologies and statements of regret are not enough. Speaking on the U.S. television ?, CNN's Late Edition program, Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmed Chalabi called for tearing down the Abu Ghraib prison, which he noted¹² had been used for torture under the former regime of Saddam Hussein.

"It [Abu Ghraib] has a very bad connotation in the minds of the Iraqi people," he said. "It is the place where great monstrosities took place against the Iraqi people. And I think it should be raised to the ground now."

Meanwhile, U.S. military commanders say American forces have killed 19 Iraqi insurgents¹⁴ in Baghdad. The insurgents were said to be backers of a radical¹⁵ Shi'ite Muslim cleric (Moqtada al-Sadr) who opposes the coalition¹⁶ occupation of Iraq.

A blast at a Baghdad marketplace has also killed several Iraqi police and civilians¹⁷. Another blast in the southern Iraqi city of Basra left three coalition troops wounded.
注释：
court martial 军事法庭
procedure [prE5si:dVE] n. 程序，手续
allegedly [E5ledVIdlI] adv. 据称
abuse [E5bju:z] v. 虐待
detainee [dIteI5ni:] n. 战俘
Abu Ghraib prison （巴格达）阿布格莱布监狱
empowered [im5pauE] v. 使能够
conspiracy [kEn5spirEsi] n. 阴谋
maltreat [mAl5tri:t] vt. 虐待
subordinate [sE5bC:dinit] n. 下属
dereliction of duty 玩忽职守
transparent [trAns5pZErEnt] adj. 透明的，明晰的
humiliate¹⁸ [hju(:)5milieit] v. 羞辱
torture [5tC:tFE] vt. 拷问，折磨
outrage [5autreidV] n. 愤怒
taunt⁹ [tC:nt] vt. 嘲弄，奚落
committed [kE5mitid] adj. 效忠的，忠于……的
democratic [7demE5krAtik] adj. 民主的
CNN abbr. Cable News Network 美国有线新闻网
connotation [7kCnEu5teiFEn] n. 隐含意义
monstrosity [mCns5trCsiti] n. 丑恶的事情
insurgent¹³ [in5sE:dVEnt] n. 起义者
radical Shi'ite Muslim cleric 伊拉克极端什叶派穆斯林教徒
oppose [E5pEuz] vt. 反对

 

1 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

2 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

3 negligently   

参考例句：

• Losses caused intentionally or negligently by the lessee shall be borne by the lessee. 如因承租人的故意或过失造成损失的，由承租人负担。 来自经济法规部分
• Did the other person act negligently? 他人的行为是否有过失？ 来自口语例句

4 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

5 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

6 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

7 condemnation   

n.谴责; 定罪

参考例句：

• There was widespread condemnation of the invasion. 那次侵略遭到了人们普遍的谴责。
• The jury's condemnation was a shock to the suspect. 陪审团宣告有罪使嫌疑犯大为震惊。

8 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

9 taunt   

n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄

参考例句：

• He became a taunt to his neighbours.他成了邻居们嘲讽的对象。
• Why do the other children taunt him with having red hair?为什么别的小孩子讥笑他有红头发？

10 taunting   

嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落

参考例句：

• She wagged a finger under his nose in a taunting gesture. 她当着他的面嘲弄地摇晃着手指。
• His taunting inclination subdued for a moment by the old man's grief and wildness. 老人的悲伤和狂乱使他那嘲弄的意图暂时收敛起来。

11 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。

12 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

13 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。

14 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

15 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

16 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。

17 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。

18 humiliate   

v.使羞辱，使丢脸[同]disgrace

参考例句：

• What right had they to bully and humiliate people like this?凭什么把人欺侮到这个地步呢？
• They pay me empty compliments which only humiliate me.他们虚情假意地恭维我，这只能使我感到羞辱。