2006年VOA标准英语-Iraq Study Group Urges Major Policy Changes

By Meredith Buel
Washington
06 December 2006

A bi-partisan commission studying the war in Iraq says President Bush's policy is not working and major changes are needed in America's military and diplomatic strategy. A much anticipated report released Wednesday by the Iraq Study Group says most U.S. combat troops could be withdrawn¹ by early 2008. VOA Correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Washington.

Baker2 (R) and Lee H. Hamilton  " hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070511/1042200.jpg" width="206" vspace="2" border="0" />

Iraq Study Group co-Chairs James Baker (r) and Lee Hamilton answer questions at news conference in Washington, 06 Dec 2006

The co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group, Lee Hamilton, says the Bush administration's approach to the war in Iraq has not been successful and the ability of the United States to influence events there is diminishing.

"The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating³. Violence is increasing in scope and lethality⁴. Attacks on U.S. forces and U.S. casualties continue at an alarming rate. The Iraqi people are suffering great hardship," said Hamilton.

The study group report recommends a change in the primary mission of U.S. troops from combat to a role supporting Iraqi security forces.

Hamilton says this will enable the United States to begin to move its combat troops out of the country soon.

"By the first quarter of 2008, subject of course to unexpected developments on the ground, all U.S. combat brigades, not necessary for force protection, could be out of Iraq," he added.

The panel also called for increasing the number of U.S. soldiers embedded⁵ with Iraqi forces, from 4,000 to as many as 20,000.

The group's other co-chairman, former Secretary of State James Baker, says major diplomatic changes are necessary to improve the situation in Iraq.

"The United States should promptly⁶ initiate⁷ a new diplomatic offensive, and working with the government of Iraq, should create an international Iraq support group to address comprehensively the political, economic and military matters necessary to provide stability in Iraq," he said. "That support group should include Iraq of course, but also all of Iraq's neighbors, including Iran and Syria."

The Bush administration has refused to engage in direct discussions with Iran and Syria, saying both are supporting insurgents⁸ in Iraq and are involved with international terrorist groups.

The panel also says the United States can not achieve its goals in the Middle East unless it deals directly with the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional stability.

The group calls for the Bush administration to launch a renewed and sustained diplomatic effort to find a solution to that conflict.

The report also takes aim at the Iraqi government, saying it is not adequately advancing the key issues of national reconciliation⁹, providing basic security, or delivering essential services.

Co-chairman Lee Hamilton says the Iraqi government must reach specific benchmarks in these areas, or risk losing assistance from the United States.

"If the Iraqi government does not make substantial progress toward the achievement of milestones¹⁰, the United States then should reduce its political, military or economic support for the Iraqi government," he said.

The panel delivered its report to President Bush, who says the group gave a very tough assessment¹¹ of the situation in Iraq.

Mr. Bush says the report contains interesting proposals and promised to act in a timely fashion.

1 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

2 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

3 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。

4 lethality   

n.致命性，毁坏性

参考例句：

• Modern weapons have greater range, accuracy, speed, and lethality than anything ever dreamed of before. 现代的武器比从前所梦想的任何武器射得更远，射得更准，速度更快，而且更具有杀伤力。 来自辞典例句
• The Mk 46 provides long-range lethality while engaging small, high-speed, surface targets. 该系统在舰船遭遇小型高速水面目标时将提供远距离的致命杀伤力。 来自互联网

5 embedded   

a.扎牢的

参考例句：

• an operation to remove glass that was embedded in his leg 取出扎入他腿部玻璃的手术
• He has embedded his name in the minds of millions of people. 他的名字铭刻在数百万人民心中。

6 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

7 initiate   

vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入

参考例句：

• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
• They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。

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 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 milestones   

n.重要事件( milestone的名词复数 )；重要阶段；转折点；里程碑

参考例句：

• Several important milestones in foreign policy have been passed by this Congress and they can be chalked up as major accomplishments. 这次代表大会通过了对外政策中几起划时代的事件，并且它们可作为主要成就记录下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dale: I really envy your milestones over the last few years, Don. 我真的很羡慕你在过去几年中所建立的丰功伟绩。 来自互联网

11 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？