2007年VOA标准英语-US General: Iran May be Helping Iraqi Sunni Ins

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
13 April 2007

The second-ranking U.S. general in Iraq says his experts suspect that Iran is helping¹ Sunni insurgent² groups, as well as Shi'ite groups, as both contribute to ongoing³ violence in Iraq.  VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

Speaking via satellite from Baghdad, Lieutenant⁴ General Ray Odierno told reporters at the Pentagon his forces and Iraqi troops have discovered evidence that leads them to suspect Iranian involvement in the Iraqi violence goes beyond just help for Shi'ite groups.  The general says more evidence was found on Thursday, when troops discovered a large cache of bomb-making equipment in Baghdad.

"The different types of initiators found, to include sensors⁵, led our analysts⁶ to believe that the IED technicians provided devices to both Sunni insurgents⁷ and Shia insurgents throughout Iraq," he said.

General Odierno says he has no proof yet, but his troops are investigating.

"We're working now to determine whether they are, in fact, not only providing Shia groups, but also Sunni insurgent groups," he added.  "We don't have any specific proof of that yet, but there's been some indications that that could, in fact, be the case."

The general says the help for insurgents in Iraq is coming from Iran's elite⁸ Quds Force, but he could not say whether senior Iranian leaders are directing the effort.

Image from AP Television News shows a man and a woman leaving the area through thick dust following explosion in Iraqi parliament cafeteria in Baghdad, 12 Apr 2007

The general also reported progress from the new Baghdad Security Plan, in spite of continuing violence, including the bombings Thursday of the Iraqi Parliament building and a bridge in the capital.  He called Thursday 'a very bad day,' but said the new security effort should not be judged by that alone.

"It's not about one or two single events," he noted⁹.  "It's about an overall feeling of security you get in your neighborhood.  And we are tackling this neighborhood by neighborhood.  And it's allowing people to understand that they feel protected inside their neighborhood first."

General Odierno also said U.S. forces will not take over security for the parliament building because Iraqi forces are capable of securing it, and it is important for them to do so.

The general said it is too early to judge how long the United States will have to maintain the higher troop level President Bush ordered in January.  He said all the troops will be in Iraq by early June and the first assessment¹⁰ will come in July or August.  He said the goal is to provide long-term security, but he said that does not necessarily mean more U.S. troops for the long term.

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 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

8 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

9 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。

10 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？