2007年VOA标准英语-Suicide Truck Bombing in Baghdad Kills 15

By Barry Newhouse
Irbil, Iraq
13 February 2007

Iraqi police say a suicide bomber¹ drove near a college in a Shi'ite area of Baghdad Tuesday and set off a blast that killed 15 people and wounded 30 others. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from northern Iraq that the attack came as students returned to school this week after a two week break.

The blast in western Baghdad's Iskan neighborhood occurred near a private college and a trade ministry² food warehouse³. A witness described the attack.

He says he was walking with three young boys when the car exploded. He says the blast killed people in a nearby house and beheaded one of the boys he was walking with.

The attack occurred in a mainly Shi'ite neighborhood, but locals said the school had a religiously mixed student body.

Iraqi army soldier mans a machine gun atop a Humvee while securing street in Baghdad, Iraq, as part of new security sweep

Baghdad residents are anxiously waiting for the new security operation that officials have vowed⁴ will reduce such random⁵ attacks on civilians⁶. But there is skepticism among both Iraqis and lawmakers in Washington that the plan will be able to succeed.

Members of the U.S. Congress are debating a non-binding resolution this week that opposes sending more than 20,000 additional American forces to Iraq as part of the new security plan. And Iraqis fear the security crackdown will focus on some sectarian militant⁷ groups - but not others.

Tuesday in Baghdad, Iraq's deputy prime minister addressed worries that the crackdown will be politically motivated. He said the government has learned from previous politician-led plans that failed to curb⁸ violence.

Salam Zoba Ai says that this time Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki will choose technocrats⁹ to help oversee¹⁰ the operation.

He did not say when the prime minister would appoint officials for the job.

1 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

4 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

5 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

8 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

9 technocrats   

n.技术专家，专家政治论者( technocrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Few business barons remained. They were replaced by "technocrats," who became the heads of corporations. 企业巨头所剩无几，大多已被“技术专家”所代替，这些人成了公司的领导。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• However, bankers called the technocrats' bluff and proceeded to lend with gusto. 但是，银行家们称技术专家官员不过在虚张声势，并且还会乐观的继续借贷业务。 来自互联网

10 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。