2007年VOA标准英语-Iraq Executes Two of Saddam's Co-Defendants

By Mil Arcega
Washington, DC
16 January 2007
 
watch Iraq report

An Iraqi army Humvee blocks a street in central Baghdad, Iraq

The threat of new violence in Iraq increased this week following the execution of two former top aides to Saddam Hussein.  There was no raucous¹ spectacle at Monday's hangings, as there was when Saddam was killed last month.  In southern Iraq, convoys³ carrying military supplies streamed across the border from Kuwait, just days after President Bush announced plans to send a "surge" of new troops into the war zone. 

 

Despite strong opposition⁴ from Democratic Party members and some Republicans in Congress, James Phillips, a Middle East expert at the Heritage Foundation, says the strategy might succeed if it reduces the level of violence in Baghdad. "If that security situation is improved, even if it's not 100 percent, normal everyday people will appreciate that, and will look more to the Iraqi government for security and less to the militias⁵, which increasingly are involved in tit-for-tat attacks."

But analysts⁶ warn the gruesome double hanging of two of Saddam Hussein's former top aides could spark new attacks.  Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Saddam's half brother, was decapitated during the hanging. 

Iraqi authorities showed reporters video of the execution as evidence that Barzan was not mistreated, but they say the pictures will not be shown to a wider audience.

Iraq's Vice⁷ President Tariq al-Hashemi had made last-minute appeals to delay the executions. "Definitely this is, I consider, another bad day for the national reconciliation⁸ project."

In the United States, public debate about the situation in Iraq has shifted toward neighboring Iran's alleged⁹ role in fueling sectarian violence.

Vice President Cheney declared Iran a growing and multi-faceted threat (this week), and the president's national security adviser¹⁰, Stephen Hadley, says Tehran's "meddling¹¹" is unacceptable: "We intend to deal with it by interdicting¹² and disrupting activities in Iraq, sponsored by Iran, that are putting our troops and Iraqis at risk."

The war in Iraq continues to dominate the political landscape in the U.S.  Senator John McCain, a Republican presidential hopeful and outspoken¹³ supporter of sending more troops to Iraq, is staking his political future on the outcome of the war. "I do have ambitions, but they pale in comparison to what I think is most important to our nation's security.  If it destroys any ambitions I may have, I am willing to pay that price gladly."

If the surge of additional troops in Iraq fails, analysts say it could have major implications on the presidential aspirations¹⁴ of some candidates.

Heavily armored vehicles escorted U.S. military tankers¹⁵ and supply trucks crossing the border from Kuwait into the southern province of Basra.  The convoy² is believed to be part of the Bush administration's strategy to send 21,000 additional troops to Iraq. 

1 raucous   

adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的

参考例句：

• I heard sounds of raucous laughter upstairs.我听见楼上传来沙哑的笑声。
• They heard a bottle being smashed,then more raucous laughter.他们听见酒瓶摔碎的声音，然后是一阵更喧闹的笑声。

2 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

3 convoys   

n.（有护航的）船队( convoy的名词复数 )；车队；护航（队）；护送队

参考例句：

• Truck convoys often stop over for lunch here. 车队经常在这里停下来吃午饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A UN official said aid programs will be suspended until there's adequate protection for relief convoys. 一名联合国官员说将会暂停援助项目，直到援助车队能够得到充分的保护为止。 来自辞典例句

4 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。

5 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

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

8 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。

9 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

10 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

11 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句

12 interdicting   

v.禁止（行动）( interdict的现在分词 )；禁用；限制

参考例句：

13 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

14 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

15 tankers   

运送大量液体或气体的轮船[卡车]( tanker的名词复数 )； 油轮； 罐车； 油槽车

参考例句：

• They should stop offloading waste from oil tankers into the sea. 他们应当停止从油轮上往海里倾倒废弃物。
• The harbour admits large tankers and freighters. 这个港口容得下巨型油船和货轮。