2006年VOA标准英语-US General: Al-Qaida in 'Disarray' in Iraq

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
13 January 2006
 
A senior U.S. general in Iraq says the al-Qaida terrorist network in the country is in "disarray," and that if the new government includes Sunni groups that have supported the insurgency¹ it will go a long way toward reducing the violence that has plagued the country in recent years.  The number two coalition² commander in Iraq, Lieutenant³ General John Vines, spoke⁴ to reporters at the Pentagon via satellite Friday, just a few days before ending his year-long assignment.

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US soldiers secure the area around an Abrams tank which caught fire after a US convoy⁵ was targeted by a roadside bomb in the center of Baghdad  
  

General Vines says attacks will continue in Iraq, perpetrated by groups that want to impose their views on the Iraqi people.  But these days, he says, most of the violence does not come from al-Qaida.

"There are a fair number of indicators⁶ that tell us currently al-Qaida in Iraq is in disarray," he said.

General Vines says most of the recent wave of violence has been carried out by Iraqis.

"The indicators are that we see are not related to al-Qaida in Iraq.  They are in some cases related to other terrorist groups.  In some cases they're related to former regime elements and Saddamists.  In some cases they're related to people who conduct violent acts for pay," he added.

The second-ranking U.S. commander in Iraq says that makes it crucial for Iraqi politicians to negotiate a future government that includes Sunni groups.  If that happens, he says many violent groups are more likely to lay down their arms and become part of the political process, a move he says would significantly reduce the insurgency.

"We have indicators that many who we believe may have been involved in violence are seeing that they can and must reject that violence so they can be a full participant in government," he explained.  "I believe it would have a very significant impact if they laid down arms and participated in a democratic process, as opposed to violence."

In the past, U.S. commanders and officials have said that while most of the insurgent⁷ attacks in Iraq are carried out by Iraqi groups, the largest ones are mostly carried out by al-Qaida.

General Vines says more and more ordinary Iraqis are rejecting violence, particularly in the wake of the recent national election.  But he warned that some violence will likely continue, and that future stability depends on the new government's success in making the country's various groups feel that their needs are being addressed.

1 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

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 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。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

6 indicators   

（仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号

参考例句：

• The economic indicators are better than expected. 经济指标比预期的好。
• It is still difficult to develop indicators for many concepts used in social science. 为社会科学领域的许多概念确立一个指标仍然很难。

7 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。