2007年VOA标准英语-US Officials: Iraq Reconstruction Beset With Pr

By Michael Bowman
Washington
22 March 2007

U.S. officials say the reconstruction¹ of Iraq is moving forward and improving despite severe problems that have hampered³ many projects since Saddam Hussein was removed from power in 2003.  VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Washington, where top civilian⁴ and military officials overseeing Iraq's reconstruction testified on Capitol Hill hours after the release of a Pentagon report detailing shortcomings in the rebuilding effort.

Construction workers mix cement at a power station under construction in the poor eastern neighborhood of Sadr city in Baghdad, 22 Aug 2005

The Bush administration has spent billions of dollars to boost Iraq's infrastructure⁵ in recent years, with little to show for it, according to Michigan Democratic Senator Carl Levin who noted⁶ the Pentagon's somber⁷ assessment⁸ of progress made.

"The inspector⁹ general's report is full of discouraging examples of key facilities that suffered from poor design, sloppy¹⁰ construction, inadequate¹¹ quality control," he explained.  "One example: plumbing¹² was so poorly installed at the Baghdad Police College that dripping sewage not only threatened the health of students and instructors¹³, it could [also] affect the structural¹⁴ integrity of the building."

Levin was speaking at a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.  Among those testifying was Major General Ronald Johnson of the U.S. Army Corps¹⁵ of Engineers, who insisted that, despite problems, progress has been made in Iraq.

"We have completed 13 refurbished hospitals that can serve 5,500 patients a day; we have restored water treatment facilities benefiting over 2.3 million Iraqis; we have completed 800 new or renovated¹⁶ schools; [and] we have increased electric power generation benefiting 1.3 million homes," said Major General Johnson.

Also testifying was the author of the Pentagon report, Inspector General Stuart Bowen, who said many projects suffered from a lack of planning and coordination¹⁷, leading to wasteful¹⁸ spending.  But he said cases of fraud were rare.

His report urges a number of corrective steps ranging from better communication between U.S. governmental agencies to increased consultations¹⁹ with Iraqis.

"Program managers should integrate local populations at every level of planning from the outset," noted General Bowen.  "It is more than just contracting with Iraqis.  It is engaging the interests of the local population as much as possible in developing the program itself."

All who testified acknowledged the challenge of carrying out major reconstruction projects in a country torn apart by civil strife²⁰. 

Mark Ward² is an administrator²¹ with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

"There are a thousand problems in Iraq, and then there is one," he said.  "And that one is security in Baghdad.  And that is the essential pre-requisite to solving the rest of those problems."

David Satterfield, a senior advisor²² to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, says 2007 is a transitional period for U.S. rebuilding efforts.

"We have shifted our focus from large infrastructure projects to capacity development, technical assistance programs, that increase the capacities of Iraqis to better plan and execute their capital budget [and] manage their reconstruction projects," he explained.

U.S. officials are betting that revamped procedures for the reconstruction of Iraq coupled with enhanced security provided by the ongoing²³ surge of U.S. forces in the country will provide a boost to rebuilding efforts.

Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman of Connecticut said he hopes the bet pays off, noting that the stakes in Iraq and Afghanistan are high.

"If we want these nations to become free and prosperous societies that will be our allies in the war on terror rather than falling back into dictatorship, [then] we must help them build the infrastructure upon which prosperity and freedom depend," said Mr. Lieberman.

In addition to the troop surge, President Bush's "new way forward" for Iraq calls for expanding the size and number of reconstruction teams, engaging local leaders and populations, promoting reconciliation²⁴ among Iraqi factions²⁵ and boosting economic development.

After meeting with reconstruction team leaders at the White House, President Bush hailed their efforts to, in his words, "help a young democracy survive."

The president also urged Congress to approve new funds for U.S. efforts in Iraq.  Many Democratic legislators want to impose a deadline for U.S. troops to withdraw, something the administration strenuously²⁶ opposes.

1 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

2 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

3 hampered   

妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions. 恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• So thought every harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 圣彼德堡镇的那些受折磨、受拘束的体面孩子们个个都是这么想的。

4 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

5 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。

6 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。

7 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

8 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

9 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

10 sloppy   

adj.邋遢的，不整洁的

参考例句：

• If you do such sloppy work again,I promise I'll fail you.要是下次作业你再马马虎虎，我话说在头里，可要给你打不及格了。
• Mother constantly picked at him for being sloppy.母亲不断地批评他懒散。

11 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

12 plumbing   

n.水管装置；水暖工的工作；管道工程v.用铅锤测量（plumb的现在分词）；探究

参考例句：

• She spent her life plumbing the mysteries of the human psyche. 她毕生探索人类心灵的奥秘。
• They're going to have to put in new plumbing. 他们将需要安装新的水管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 instructors   

指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
• He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份，被邀请到主席台上。

14 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

15 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

16 renovated   

翻新，修复，整修( renovate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He renovated his house. 他翻修了房子。
• The house has been renovated three years earlier. 这所房子三年前就已翻新。

17 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

18 wasteful   

adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的

参考例句：

• It is a shame to be so wasteful.这样浪费太可惜了。
• Duties have been reassigned to avoid wasteful duplication of work.为避免重复劳动浪费资源，任务已经重新分派。

19 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

20 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。

21 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

22 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

23 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

24 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

25 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

26 strenuously   

adv.奋发地，费力地

参考例句：

• The company has strenuously defended its decision to reduce the workforce. 公司竭力为其裁员的决定辩护。
• She denied the accusation with some warmth, ie strenuously, forcefully. 她有些激动，竭力否认这一指责。