VOA标准英语2008年-Pentagon Says Attacks Down But Iran Continues t

The Pentagon says it has no indication that Iran has reduced what a spokesman calls its "meddling¹" in Iraq, even though attacks by Iranian-backed militias³ are down significantly. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.
　
Geoff Morrell (file photo)

Press Secretary Geoff Morrell says the recent 70 percent reduction in roadside bomb attacks resulted from efforts by Iraqi and U.S. security forces to eliminate insurgent⁴ safe havens⁶ in several parts of Iraq.

"Beginning with the Basra operations a couple of months ago, you've seen the Iraqi government take a much more pro-active role in going after JAM [Jesh al-Mahdi] and the special groups," he said. "And there's been a great deal of security progress as a result of that."

JAM is the Jesh al-Mahdi, the militia² led by Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and backed by Iran. Sadr has declared a ceasefire, but splinter cells, which the Pentagon calls "special groups," continue to fight. Morrell says Iraqi-led operations in Basra, Amara and elsewhere have significantly degraded the ability of those groups to carry out attacks.

"We have taken the fight to where the special Iranian-backed groups had had a safe haven⁵," he said. "They no longer enjoy that safe haven. A great many of them have fled the country to Iran and are seeking refuge there right now. So, they no longer enjoy the ability to operate that they once did. And as a result, we have seen a decline in attacks involving Iranian supplied, created, trained weapons."

Those weapons include high-powered roadside bombs that fire projectiles⁷ capable of piercing U.S. armored vehicles. The USA Today newspaper reported Friday that such attacks are also down 70 percent, as are overall roadside bombings. Iraqi and U.S. officials have been urging Iran to end its supply of weapons, training and money to Iraqi insurgents⁸.

But the Pentagon spokesman does not give Iran any credit for the recent reduction of attacks by groups it supports.

"I don't think we've seen any indication that there's sort of been some new trend in Iranian cooperation or a decrease in their meddling in Iraq," said Morrell. "From this perch⁹ we don't see that to be the reasoning behind it. We see the resaoning to be a much more aggressive Iraqi security force posture¹⁰ against Iranian-backed special groups."

Morrell says many of the special group leaders have fled to Iran, but he does not believe they have been recalled as part of any plan to end or reduce Iranian support for militant¹¹ Iraqis.

The comments came as there was a slight easing of U.S.-Iranian tensions. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the decision to for the first time send a U.S. official to multi-lateral talks with Iran on its nuclear program is a "strong signal" the United States is serious about engaging Iran diplomatically. In addition, a British newspaper reports the United States may open a diplomatic interest section in Tehran, like the one Iran has in Washington, a move Iran's foreign minister said Monday might be possible.

　

 

1 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句

2 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

3 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

4 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。

5 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

6 havens   

n.港口，安全地方( haven的名词复数 )v.港口，安全地方( haven的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Your twenty havens would back out at the last minute anyhow. 你那二十个避难所到了最后一分钟也要不认帐。 来自辞典例句
• Using offshore havens to avoid taxes and investor protections. 使用海面的港口避免税和投资者保护。 来自互联网

7 projectiles   

n.抛射体( projectile的名词复数 )；（炮弹、子弹等）射弹，（火箭等）自动推进的武器

参考例句：

• These differences are connected with the strong absorption of the composite projectiles. 这些差别与复杂的入射粒子的强烈吸收有关。 来自辞典例句
• Projectiles became more important because cannons could now fire balls over hundreds or yards. 抛射体变得更加重要，因为人们已能用大炮把炮弹射到几百码的距离之外。 来自辞典例句

8 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

9 perch   

n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于

参考例句：

• The bird took its perch.鸟停歇在栖木上。
• Little birds perch themselves on the branches.小鸟儿栖歇在树枝上。

10 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

11 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。