2007年VOA标准英语-US Commander in Iraq Says Insurgents Intensifyi

By Barry Newhouse
Baghdad
08 March 2007

The top U.S. commander in Iraq says the new security operation in Baghdad and in al-Anbar province is growing and insurgents¹ are intensifying³ efforts to derail the crackdown. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Baghdad that in General David Petraeus's first press conference since taking command last month, he also said the security push alone is not enough to solve Iraq's problems.

Gen. David Petraeus speaks at a press conference in Baghdad, 8 March 2007

General Petraeus took command of U.S. forces in Iraq in February, as American and Iraqi forces were preparing for a months-long security operation designed to secure the capital and drive out Sunni insurgents in al Anbar province.

The general says in the last month he has toured parts of Baghdad, and said he was "taken aback" by how some neighborhoods have changed since he was last in Iraq.

"When I left 17 months ago now, there certainly was not the kind of emptiness in some of the neighborhoods of Baghdad," he said.

Thousands of Baghdad residents have fled worsening sectarian violence in the last year.

General Petraeus says the number of sectarian killings⁴ has fallen since the security operation began, and a small number of families have returned home, but it is still too early to call the improvements a significant trend.

"A primary goal of this operation is to secure those neighborhoods to try to restore confidence in those who live there that they can return home, that shopkeepers can reopen their businesses, that markets can begin to flourish again, and that kids can go to school without being kidnapped and so forth," he added.

The general says the last of nine Iraqi battalions⁵ and the second of five American brigades are in Baghdad as part of the troop surge operation, called Operation "Fardh al Qanoon" or "Enforcing the Law." He says the remaining additional troops will be in place by early June.

General Petraeus said there are three categories of insurgents - al Qaida in Iraq terrorist cells, sectarian militias⁶ and violent criminals - and all are trying to derail the security operation by provoking more violence between Iraqi Sunnis and Shi'ites.

"Some of these groups are still carrying out their barbaric acts. In fact we believe they have sought to intensify² their sensational⁷ attacks in recent weeks to provoke renewed sectarian violence and derail operation Fardh al Qanoon before it can be fully⁸ implemented," said General Petraeus. 

This week, insurgents launched several shooting and suicide bomb attacks against Shi'ite pilgrims who are walking to the holy city of Karbala for the Arbaeen religious holiday. More than 170 people have been killed in the violence.

 

The general said he shares the "horror and the sadness" in seeing the pilgrims attacked. But he said Iraqi soldiers have done an impressive job overseeing security for the pilgrimage, which is the largest in several years. 

He said some reports estimate as many as five million pilgrims are walking on major roads to Karbala, making security difficult.

"It is an enormous task to protect all of them and there is a point at which, if someone is willing to blow up himself, particularly perhaps disguise himself, and use a vest rather than a vehicle, the problem becomes very very difficult indeed," he said.

General Petraeus says more than security is needed and Iraq's political leaders must deliver the government services that are essential to gaining the support of the population.

"As citizens feel safer, conditions will be set for the resumption and improvement for basic services," he continued. "This is hugely important; indeed, Iraqis have often ranked the provision of services ahead of security in importance."

General Petraeus says the Iraqi government has earmarked more than $7 billion for security expenses and $10 billion for infrastructure⁹.

1 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

2 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

3 intensifying   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉

参考例句：

• The allies are intensifying their air campaign. 联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。 来自辞典例句
• The rest of the European powers were in a state of intensifying congestion. 其余的欧洲强国则处于越来越拥挤的状态。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

4 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

5 battalions   

n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍

参考例句：

• God is always on the side of the strongest battalions. 上帝总是帮助强者。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Two battalions were disposed for an attack on the air base. 配置两个营的兵力进攻空军基地。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

7 sensational   

adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的

参考例句：

• Papers of this kind are full of sensational news reports.这类报纸满是耸人听闻的新闻报道。
• Their performance was sensational.他们的演出妙极了。

8 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

9 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。