2006年VOA标准英语-Prayers and Politics Play Out in Iraq

By Peter Fedynsky
Washington, DC
27 December 2006
 
watch Iraq Prayers and Politics

Sectarian violence in Iraq mostly involves mutual¹ attacks by the country's Sunni and Shia Muslims.  But Monday's Christmas holiday highlighted the plight² of nearly one million Christians⁴ in Iraq.  As VOA's Peter Fedynsky reports, the Christian³ holiday was accompanied by continued violence, as well as political debates in America about ways to end the Iraqi bloodshed.

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Iraqis look at the destroyed Jameat police station after it was demolished in a British army raid in Basra,Iraq, 25 Dec 2006

Some Iraqi Christians celebrated⁶ Christmas at a church in the Karradah neighborhood in Baghdad.  But their numbers were fewer this year due to deterioration⁷ of the overall security situation in Iraq, and persecution⁸ of Christians by Sunni and Shia militias⁹.  

Meanwhile, peaceful Christmas Eve preparations by British troops in the southern Iraqi city of Basra contrasted sharply with their mission on Christmas Day.

British forces demolished a police station in Basra based on intelligence that Iraqi officers were planning to execute detainees.  Seven gunmen were killed.  British officials say the operation was aimed at disbanding a unit at the station involved in murders, kidnappings and other crimes. 

Half a world away, it was a working holiday weekend for President Bush.  He met with his new Defense¹⁰ Secretary, Robert Gates, who reported on his recent trip to Iraq.  The administration is considering a U.S. troop increase in Iraq, a suggestion that has sparked debate in Washington, D.C.  Connecticut's opposition¹¹ Democratic Senator, Christopher Dodd, just returned from Baghdad.

"I don't see any mission associated with this.  It sounds to me like a tactic¹² in search of a strategy here," said Dodd.  "The strategy is not clear yet what needs to be done, and therefore, I think adding as many as 30,000 troops to the Baghdad area would be a mistake and cause us even more difficulty down the road."

But South Carolina's Republican Senator Lindsay Graham, who also visited Iraq recently, says democracy there is not possible, unless Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki can rein¹³ in the militias. "You're not going to have a political solution with this much violence. So the surge of troops is I think very necessary," said Graham. "Additional combat capability¹⁴, co-joined with political reform, will be successful."

U.S. military commanders on the ground in Iraq have not called for a troop increase.  While President Bush says he bases his decisions on the advice of those commanders, he is considering added troop strength.  He is expected to announce his decision in the New Year.

1 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

2 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

3 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

4 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

5 demolished   

v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光

参考例句：

• The factory is due to be demolished next year. 这个工厂定于明年拆除。
• They have been fighting a rearguard action for two years to stop their house being demolished. 两年来，为了不让拆除他们的房子，他们一直在进行最后的努力。

6 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

7 deterioration   

n.退化；恶化；变坏

参考例句：

• Mental and physical deterioration both occur naturally with age. 随着年龄的增长，心智和体力自然衰退。
• The car's bodywork was already showing signs of deterioration. 这辆车的车身已经显示出了劣化迹象。

8 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

9 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

10 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。

11 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

12 tactic   

n.战略，策略；adj.战术的，有策略的

参考例句：

• Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。
• She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。

13 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

14 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。