2006年VOA标准英语-Speculation Increases Over Possible US Drawdown

By Peter Fedynsky
Washington, D.C.
01 December 2006
 
watch Drawdown report

The Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan U.S. panel, presents its report on Wednesday to President Bush and the Congress on strategic options in Iraq.  The report is expected to examine a possible drawdown of U.S. troops in that country and also diplomatic initiatives to stabilize¹ Iraq. 

 
Co-chairmen of the Iraq Study Group Lee Hamilton (l) and James Baker 
Published reports indicate the Iraq Study Group will recommend withdrawing U.S. combat troops from Iraq by 2008.  Support troops would remain.  However, after his meeting on Thursday in Amman, Jordan with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, President Bush rejected speculation² of an early U.S. troop withdrawal³:

"We're going to stay in Iraq to get the job done, so long as the government wants us there,” said the president.

 
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (6 Nov 06)
In an interview with an American television network [ABC], Mr. Maliki deferred⁴ to the White House on when U.S. troops can begin pulling out. "In fact, this depends on the American administration.  It will consider the situation about the existence of its troops [in Iraq], but I can talk about the Iraqi side."

The Prime Minister noted⁵ that Iraqi forces would be ready to assume full control of security in his country by June 2007.  And the Bush administration is now advancing the idea of shifting the duties of U.S. forces in Iraq from security to the training of Iraqi forces. 

But Major General Benjamin Mixon, commander of the Multi-National division in northern Iraq, says U.S. forces will fight when needed. "We will take less of an active combat role, but we will continue to target al Qaida operatives that are operating within the area and, working with our Iraqi security forces, targeting those elements that are emplacing improvised⁶ explosive devices and conducting attacks against the Iraqi populace."

On the diplomatic front, the ten-member Iraq Study Group is expected to call for Iranian and Syrian participation⁷ in talks about stabilizing⁸ Iraq.  But Frank Gaffney, assistant defense⁹ secretary in the Reagan administration, hopes the recommendation will be rejected.

"When you combine the idea of ill-advised negotiations¹⁰ with terrorist sponsoring states -- states directly responsible for the mess in Iraq at the moment -- with this idea that the United States must simply just disengage from there on some timetable or other, you really see, I think, the makings of a formula for an abject¹¹ humiliating and strategically disastrous¹² defeat,” said Gaffney. 

 
Jimmy Carter
But in an interview with VOA, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter says diplomatic talks should include not only Syria and Iran, but also other Iraqi neighbors, as well as countries such as France and Russia to send a collective message of support to the people of Iraq.

"Look, the world is interested in your future,” Mr. Carter told us. “We would like to see the damage done to you by the war be alleviated¹³. We would like to see you have fresh water to drink and electricity in your homes. We would like to see your schools reopened."

President Bush is not bound by the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group.  He is also receiving advice on Iraq from the Pentagon and his National Security Council.

1 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

2 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

3 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。

4 deferred   

adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从

参考例句：

• The department deferred the decision for six months. 这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。
• a tax-deferred savings plan 延税储蓄计划

5 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。

6 improvised   

a.即席而作的,即兴的

参考例句：

• He improvised a song about the football team's victory. 他即席创作了一首足球队胜利之歌。
• We improvised a tent out of two blankets and some long poles. 我们用两条毛毯和几根长竿搭成一个临时帐蓬。

7 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

8 stabilizing   

n.稳定化处理[退火]v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The disulfide bridges might then be viewed primarily as stabilizing components. 二硫桥可以被看作是初级的稳定因素。 来自辞典例句
• These stabilizing design changes are usually not desirable for steady-state operation. 这些增加稳定性的设计改变通常不太符合稳态工作的要求。 来自辞典例句

9 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。

10 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

11 abject   

adj.极可怜的，卑屈的

参考例句：

• This policy has turned out to be an abject failure.这一政策最后以惨败而告终。
• He had been obliged to offer an abject apology to Mr.Alleyne for his impertinence.他不得不低声下气，为他的无礼举动向艾莱恩先生请罪。

12 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

13 alleviated   

减轻，缓解，缓和( alleviate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It is always completely alleviated by total gastrectomy. 全胃切除永远完全缓解症状。
• Toxicity problem in manufacturing and storage might be alleviated by coating beryllium with aluminum. 但如果用铝包覆铍，则可避免加工过程中及储存期间的中毒问题。