VOA常速英语2007年-Iraqi Shi'ite Leader Upbeat on Future

By Michael Bowman
Washington
04 December 2007

A senior Iraqi Shi'ite leader says his country is taking important steps toward a brighter future in matters of security, national reconciliation¹, governance, and the economy. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Washington.

The head of the Islamic Supreme² Council of Iraq, Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, says his country has seen a dramatic reduction in sectarian violence and terrorist attacks in recent months. Speaking through a translator in Washington Monday, Hakim also pointed³ to political achievements by the country's often-fractured leadership.

"Among them are the achievement of national reconciliation, which we have accomplished⁴ a good part of, continuous work towards [re]building all of Iraq, and fighting administrative⁵ corruption⁶. We have made good progress on important laws, like the law of oil and gas, the law of the provinces, the law of elections. And [we are] getting ready for new elections in all the provinces," he said.

Hakim, who heads the United Iraqi Alliance, the largest political coalition⁷ in Iraq's national government, was speaking at the Washington-based U.S. Institute of Peace. He noted⁸ that work remains⁹ to be done in building Iraq's security forces so that the country can defend itself from its enemies. But he said he is hopeful and confident about the future of democracy in his country.

"We are aware of the difficulties that we are facing in Iraq. We have great hopes that the good countries of the world will stand with out Iraqi people in our struggle to build a country based on the rule of law," he said.

Hakim's private visit to Washington comes at a time when America's involvement in Iraq remains a controversial and divisive subject. President Bush has hailed recent reductions in violence in Iraq as a clear sign that the U.S. military surge in the country is working. He continues to urge the opposition-led U.S. Congress to approve new funds for the war in Iraq, and insists such funds come with no target dates for an eventual¹⁰ withdrawal¹¹ of U.S. forces.

But Democratic Party leaders complain that Iraq's leaders are moving too slowly on national reconciliation, and will never make difficult choices so long as the United States maintains an open-ended military commitment in the country.

Hakim met privately¹² with President Bush in Washington last week.

1 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。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

4 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

5 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

10 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

11 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

12 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。