VOA常速英语2007-Pentagon Urges Turkey Not to Move Against Kurdis

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
17 October 2007

A senior Pentagon official says U.S. forces in Iraq are busy fighting various insurgents¹ and terrorists, and cannot directly address Kurdish terrorists based in Northern Iraq, who launch attacks on Turkey.  At the same time, the official urged Turkey not to take military action against the Kurdish group.  VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell says Iraq is already dealing² with what he called "at least two meddlesome³ neighbors," which he identified as Iran and Syria.

"As we deal with those meddlesome neighbors on either side of Iraq, we do not think this is the time to open up a potential third front in which you then have military action coming over from our good friends the Turks into what is now, arguably, the most stable region of Iraq," he said.

On Wednesday, Turkey's parliament authorized⁴ the government to take military action against the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), a group labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.  But the Pentagon press secretary says he does not expect Turkey to take any immediate⁵ action.

"The Turks are clearly frustrated," he added.  "They're clearly angry.  But I also do not think there is a great of appetite to take this next step.  It would be an enormous step.  It would have enormous implications, not just for us but for the Turks.  And I don't think there is any rush to war on the part of the Turks."

Many analysts⁶ have come to a similar conclusion, noting that previous Turkish military incursions into Northern Iraq have had little impact on the insurgents, partly due to the very rugged⁷ terrain⁸ where they hide.

The Pentagon's Geoff Morrell says U.S. forces are also not planning any action against the Kurdish insurgents.

"I think we'd like to end all threats to everyone in Iraq, but there's only so much you can do at one time," he explained.  "And we certainly have our hands full dealing with Al-Qaida, dealing with, sort of, extreme elements of Jesh al-Mahdi [the Mahdi militia], dealing with other terrorist elements and insurgents within Iraq."

Morrell says he has not seen any intelligence reports that suggest Turkey is preparing for an attack inside Iraq.  And he says the United States is encouraging a diplomatic approach to solving the problem. 

President Bush made similar comments earlier Wednesday.  The president also referred to a Turkish troop presence in Northern Iraq.  Morrell says several thousand Turkish troops have been in Iraq since the 1990s, well before the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.  He says those troops mostly stay on their base and gather what information they can about the guerrillas' activities.  He says all their movements are coordinated⁹ with U.S. and Iraqi forces, and with the Kurdish regional government in Northern Iraq.

1 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

2 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

3 meddlesome   

adj.爱管闲事的

参考例句：

• By this means the meddlesome woman cast in a bone between the wife and the husband.这爱管闲事的女人就用这种手段挑起他们夫妻这间的不和。
• Get rid of that meddlesome fool!让那个爱管闲事的家伙走开！

4 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

5 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

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 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

8 terrain   

n.地面，地形，地图

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

9 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法