2007年VOA标准英语-Defense Chief Says US Could Begin Iraq Withdraw

By Al Pessin
Washington
06 February 2007

U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday the United States could begin withdrawing troops from Iraq later this year, if several security and political factors are right. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

Robert Gates

Secretary Gates told a U.S. Senate committee it is difficult to predict when a withdrawal² will begin. But he said if the Iraqi military fulfills³ its commitments in the Baghdad security plan, and the government makes progress toward national reconciliation⁴, the withdrawal could begin this year.

"I would hope that we would be able to begin drawing down our troops later this year," he said. "If we have to look at other alternatives, alternative strategies, then that would depend on what those strategies might be."

Secretary Gates said he is considering what those alternative strategies might be if the plan President Bush announced last month does not work. He said the current effort is "not the last chance" to defeat the insurgents⁵ in Iraq.

But Gates reported that so far the Baghdad security plan is on track. Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat⁶, pressed the secretary on the competence⁷ of Iraqi forces, who are supposed to take a leading role in the operation.

Nelson: "I am trying to get my hands around are they reliable or not?"

Gates: "Senator, I think that's the question we all have. And I think that we've talked here a lot about [the fact that] we're going to have to see how it actually plays out on the ground."

Secretary Gates quoted his top commander in Iraq, General George Casey, as saying "so far, so good" on the question of the Iraqi military performance in Baghdad. The secretary said General Casey also reports that the Iraqi troops are arriving on schedule, and at about 60 percent of their full strength, with another 25 per cent of their soldiers expected to join them after finishing approved leave.

"Here right at the very beginning, and really only as they are beginning to flow into Baghdad, on balance, they're probably doing okay," he said.

The top U.S. military officer, General Peter Pace, told the same hearing he is particularly pleased that the Iraqi commander of the Baghdad security operation, Lieutenant⁸ General Aboud Qanbar, is taking an even-handed approach to security problems in Sunni and Shiite neighborhoods. "The initial indications, not to be giddy about, but the initial indications on the execution of the Iraqi piece of Baghdad, on the military part, are promising," he said.

The testimony⁹ by General Pace and Secretary Gates came the day after Republican Party senators blocked debate on a resolution expressing opposition¹⁰ to President Bush's plan to send 21,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq as part of the Baghdad security operation. The officials were there to explain their request for $623 billion in defense spending next year, plus $93 billion more for this year to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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 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。

3 fulfills   

v.履行（诺言等）( fulfill的第三人称单数 )；执行（命令等）；达到（目的）；使结束

参考例句：

• He always fulfills his promises. 他总是履行自己的诺言。 来自辞典例句
• His own work amply fulfills this robust claim. 他自己的作品在很大程度上实现了这一正确主张。 来自辞典例句

4 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。

5 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

6 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

7 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。

8 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

9 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

10 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。