2006年VOA标准英语-Rumsfeld: Iraqi Government Delay Extends V

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
23 March 2006

 
Donald Rumsfeld
  
U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the delay in forming a new Iraqi government is contributing to the ongoing² violence in the country.

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At a news conference, Secretary Rumsfeld declined to agree with a reporter's suggestion that the political wrangling³ in Iraq is resulting in more violence.  But he said he thinks there might be less if a government is formed.

"The favorable effect that should come from establishment of a government is being delayed, and the inevitable⁴ effect of that is that some of the violence and incidents that are occurring might have ended earlier," said Mr. Rumsfeld.

Secretary Rumsfeld said the Iraqi leaders need to settle their differences and begin serving the millions of people who risked their lives to vote them into office.

"A good government, a competent government, a government that's seen as inclusive, and seen as governing from the center, that gets about the task of serving the Iraqi people, I believe that that would be a good thing for the country and would reduce the level of violence," said Mr. Rumsfeld.  "So, to the extent that isn't happening obviously the level of violence continues and people are being killed, and that's unfortunate.  And they need to get about the task."

At the wide-ranging news conference, Secretary Rumsfeld would not predict future U.S. troop levels in Iraq, although he said he expects the level to decline as the competence⁵ of Iraqi forces increases and a new government takes control.  On Wednesday, President Bush said there will still be some U.S. troops in Iraq after he leaves office in January of 2009.

Secretary Rumsfeld also declined to agree with a reporter's suggestion that lower U.S. casualties in recent months could be a trend.  He said casualty counts have gone up and down in the past. 

Standing⁶ with the secretary, the number two U.S. military officer, Admiral Edmund Giambastiani, also declined to agree with a suggestion that a recent increase in insurgent⁷ attacks on Iraqi police stations could be a trend.  The admiral said two attacks, even on consecutive⁸ days, do not amount to a trend.  And he said there is no indication that insurgents⁹ are mounting any larger or better-planned attacks.

Secretary Rumsfeld also responded to a recent increase in calls for his resignation.  In addition to some Democrats¹⁰ in Congress, who have long made such calls, a retired¹¹ general wrote an opinion article this week calling the secretary "not competent" to lead the U.S. armed forces.  And Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist¹² Maureen Dowd wrote that he and other officials should resign, and that Secretary Rumsfeld is losing influence at the White House.  The secretary laughed off the criticism and said he has no plans to resign.

"I'm hard at the job, working hard and getting up every day and thinking what we can do for the troops and the wonderful people who serve our country," he added.

The secretary said anyone who believes everything they read in Maureen Dowd's columns should, in his words, "get a life."

At a news conference earlier this week, President Bush re-affirmed his confidence in Secretary Rumsfeld, saying he is doing "a fine job."

1 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。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 wrangling   

v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The two sides have spent most of their time wrangling over procedural problems. 双方大部分时间都在围绕程序问题争论不休。 来自辞典例句
• The children were wrangling (with each other) over the new toy. 孩子为新玩具（互相）争吵。 来自辞典例句

4 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

5 competence   

n.能力，胜任，称职

参考例句：

• This mess is a poor reflection on his competence.这种混乱情况说明他难当此任。
• These are matters within the competence of the court.这些是法院权限以内的事。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 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。

8 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

9 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

10 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

12 columnist   

n.专栏作家

参考例句：

• The host was interviewing a local columnist.节目主持人正在同一位当地的专栏作家交谈。
• She's a columnist for USA Today.她是《今日美国报》的专栏作家。