VOA标准英语2008年-US Military: Iraqi Government Will Pay Sunni Fi

A top American commander in Iraq says the country's Shi'ite dominated government will accept responsibility for supporting more than 50,000 mostly Sunni fighters currently armed and paid by the U.S. military. VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Washington.
　
US Secretary of Defense¹ Robert Gates arrives at Baghdad International Airport, where he is greeted by Lt. General Lloyd Austin, 15 Sept. 2008

The commander of the Multinational² Corps-Iraq, Lieutenant³ General Lloyd Austin, says the U.S. military will transfer responsibility for Sunni fighters known as the Sons of Iraq to the government in Baghdad.

General Austin says 54,000 fighters in Baghdad province will be absorbed into security and civilian⁴ jobs next month.

"The Sons of Iraq have paid a heavy price fighting al-Qaida and other insurgent⁵ groups and it is important that the government of Iraq responsibly transition them into meaningful employment," he said. "Prime Minister Nouri [al-Maliki] has assured me that the government will help those who help the people of Iraq."

The Sons of Iraq include former insurgents⁶ and fighters once loyal to Saddam Hussein. The U.S. military estimates there are about 100,000 members of the group across the country.

Their decision to join the fight against terrorists is credited as a key cause for the decline in violence in Iraq, especially in areas where al-Qaida and other Sunni militants⁷ once ruled.

General Austin told reporters via teleconference from Baghdad the volunteer movement that started in Anbar province and swept across Iraq has significantly contributed to the security successes of Iraqi and coalition⁸ forces.

"And you should know that we will not abandon the Sons of Iraq," he said. "We will continue to follow up in the future to ensure that they get paid and that they do in fact transition to meaningful employment."

General Austin says about 20 percent of the fighters in Sons of Iraq will go into the Iraqi security forces, mostly as policemen.

He says the others will be transferred to different types of jobs and will receive training for civilian employment.

"This is a significant opportunity for the government to demonstrate to the Iraqi people and to the rest of the world that it is serious about reconciliation⁹ and about honoring its promises to the Sons of Iraq," he said.

Austin says Iraqi security forces are growing in confidence and capability¹⁰, but are not yet ready to take over full security in the country.

 

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

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 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 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。

6 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

7 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

8 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。

9 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。

10 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。