2006年VOA标准英语-Iraqi Official Says Government is Stepping Up S

By Sonja Pace
London
23 October 2006

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair, left, meets with visiting Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, Monday Oct. 23, 2006  
  
raqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh says his government is working to take greater control of security in the country, and is urging coalition¹ forces not to leave too early.  Saleh met Monday with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh was eager to address increasing international concerns about the rising violence in Iraq. Speaking after his meeting with Prime Minister Blair in London, Saleh insisted his government is making progress.

"We hope, by the end of this year, one half of Iraqi provinces will come under Iraqi command," he said. "And, we hope, in the next year, we will be expediting and fast-tracking that process to show to the Iraqi people, first and foremost, and then to the international community, including the generous people of the United Kingdom and the United States that there is progress in Iraq."

Saleh said the international community should not panic, and said that foreign troops must not leave his country before Iraqi forces have a chance to solidify² their control.

Insurgent³ attacks and sectarian violence have been increasing in Iraq, causing rising concerns in London and Washington about the deteriorating⁴ situation.

As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan drew to a close and people prepared for the traditional Eid al-Fitr feast, the violence raged on. 

Iraqis look at carnage left after suicide bomber⁵ detonated his vest Sunday evening in central Baghdad's Palestine street, Monday October 23, 2006  
  
At least 40 Iraqis have been reported killed in fighting and attacks in the last several days. The U.S. military also said five of its servicemen were killed in combat Sunday, bringing U.S. military deaths in October so far to 85. 

There is growing pressure in London and Washington to get Iraqis to take over more responsibility for securing their country, which would allow American and British forces to begin pulling out.

Both the U.S. and British government insist they will not pull out until the mission is completed, nor will they set a timetable for withdrawal⁶, which they say will only embolden⁷ the enemy.

In a U.S. television interview Sunday, senior White House counselor⁸ Dan Bartlett denied the Bush administration is simply staying the course. He said the administration's strategy has been flexible.

In another TV interview, Senator Joseph Biden, a senior democrat⁹ on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the administration has not put enough pressure on the Iraqi government to find a political settlement. Biden warned, the time is coming when the American public will no longer tolerate lives and money being poured down, what he called a "rat hole," because, he said, "we're in the middle of a civil war."

1 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。

2 solidify   

v.(使)凝固，(使)固化，(使)团结

参考例句：

• Opinion on this question began to solidify.对这个问题的意见开始具体化了。
• Water will solidify into ice if you freeze it.水冷冻会结冰。

3 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。

4 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

5 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

6 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

7 embolden   

v.给…壮胆，鼓励

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine,he went over to introduce himself to her.他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• The Prime Minister was steadily emboldened by the discovery that he faced no opposition.发现自己并未遭到反对，首相渐渐有了信心。

8 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

9 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。