VOA标准英语2011--US Soldiers Close Bases, Head Out of Iraq

US Soldiers Close Bases, Head Out of Iraq

The U.S. military has almost completed the huge job of packing up all of its bases and equipment and moving out of Iraq.

After almost nine years in Iraq, thousands of U.S. troops have already left the country, and the ones remaining will be gone by December 31.

Camp Adder¹, near the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah, is the last staging post for trucks and soldiers before they arrive in neighboring Kuwait.

"For all the convoys³ that come through here, the convoy² commanders come in and check in with us, we verify their documentation, and if there is anything wrong with the documentation, we correct it on the spot," said Captain David Moses, one of the officers coordinating⁴ the final drawdown.

Also leaving are hundreds of non-military personnel who worked on the military bases, including those from Pakistan, India and Nepal.

There used to be 12,000 U.S. soldiers here, creating constant traffic on these now-empty streets.

The U.S. military says it is leaving behind some $200 million worth of equipment, including hundreds of beat up cars and pickup⁵ trucks. Most of what is being left in Iraq would cost too much to ship out.

Lt. Col. Charles Krumwiede, of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Ist Cavalry⁶ Division, says the drawdown has gone well.

"I feel we are honoring that sacrifice by the way we are professionally pulling out of this country," said Krumwiede.

The Iraqi Air Force has already taken over what used to be a large American base. It is now known as the Imam Ali Airfield⁷.

But most of what is left is dust and concrete, reminders⁸ of a long U.S. military presence.

1 adder   

n.蝰蛇；小毒蛇

参考例句：

• The adder is Britain's only venomous snake.蝰蛇是英国唯一的一种毒蛇。
• An adder attacked my father.一条小毒蛇攻击了我父亲。

2 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

3 convoys   

n.（有护航的）船队( convoy的名词复数 )；车队；护航（队）；护送队

参考例句：

• Truck convoys often stop over for lunch here. 车队经常在这里停下来吃午饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A UN official said aid programs will be suspended until there's adequate protection for relief convoys. 一名联合国官员说将会暂停援助项目，直到援助车队能够得到充分的保护为止。 来自辞典例句

4 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

5 pickup   

n.拾起，获得

参考例句：

• I would love to trade this car for a pickup truck.我愿意用这辆汽车换一辆小型轻便卡车。||The luck guy is a choice pickup for the girls.那位幸运的男孩是女孩子们想勾搭上的人。

6 cavalry   

n.骑兵；轻装甲部队

参考例句：

• We were taken in flank by a troop of cavalry. 我们翼侧受到一队骑兵的袭击。
• The enemy cavalry rode our men down. 敌人的骑兵撞倒了我们的人。

7 airfield   

n.飞机场

参考例句：

• The foreign guests were motored from the airfield to the hotel.用车把外宾从机场送到旅馆。
• The airfield was seized by enemy troops.机场被敌军占领。

8 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。