2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Says Iran Sending Arms to Iraq

By Paula Wolfson
White House
14 February 2007

President Bush says he is convinced an elite¹ Iranian military unit with government ties is putting weapons in the hands of Iraqi insurgents². But, as VOA's Paula Wolfson reports, Mr. Bush says he does not know for sure if Iran's top leaders are involved.

 
US Army officer with evidence gathered by US military on Iran's support to militant³ Iraqis fighting American forces in Iraq, 14 Feb 2007
The weapons in question include the deadly roadside bombs that can pierce armor, and have claimed the lives of more than 170 coalition⁴ troops.

Military officials in Baghdad who briefed reporters Sunday said these weapons have markings that show the components⁵ were made in Iran. These officials, who spoke⁶ on the condition they would not be identified, linked the arms transfers to the highest levels of the Iranian government.

The following day, America's highest military officer, General Peter Pace, said that while he had no doubt the weapons came from Iran, there was no direct connection to Iranian leaders.

His comments, first reported by VOA, created a stir in Washington - suggesting a disconnect within the Bush administration. But when the general was asked again, he was adamant⁷ that just because the weapons came from Iran does not necessarily mean they were shipped on orders from top officials in Tehran.

 
General Pace (l) arrives at Jakarta's airport (13 Feb 2007)
"That does not translate to that the Iranian government per se [specifically], for sure, is directly involved in doing this," said General Pace.

President Bush finally weighed in personally on the matter at a White House news conference Wednesday.

The president sided with General Pace, saying he does not know for sure if the shipments were ordered by Iran's leaders, who have denied any involvement. But he said he was certain weapons were transferred to Iraq by members of an elite Iranian military unit - the al-Quds Force - with government ties.

"That's a known," said President Bush. "What we don't know is whether or not the head leaders of Iran ordered the Quds Force to do what they did."

 
President Geroge Bush during a news conference in East Room at the White House, 14 Feb 2007
Mr. Bush went on to say no matter what role the top echelons⁸ of the Iranian government have played in the weapons transfers, there is ample cause for concern.

"Whether [Iran's President] Ahmadinejad ordered the Quds force to do this, I don't know," he said. "But we do know that they are there and I intend to do something about it."

The president also brought up the dispute over Tehran's nuclear intentions, and warned of the potential of a nuclear armed Iran. Under questioning, he once again ruled out the possibility of direct talks between the United States and Iran on this controversial issue, saying success is much more likely when other countries are involved in the negotiations⁹.

Britain, France and Germany are working with the United States to convince Iran to give up its nuclear processing program. Iran says it is creating fuel for nuclear power plants. But America and its allies stress the technology can also be used to make a nuclear bomb.

1 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

2 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

3 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。

4 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。

5 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 adamant   

adj.坚硬的，固执的

参考例句：

• We are adamant on the building of a well-off society.在建设小康社会这一点上，我们是坚定不移的。
• Veronica was quite adamant that they should stay on.维罗妮卡坚信他们必须继续留下去。

8 echelons   

n.（机构中的）等级，阶层( echelon的名词复数 )；（军舰、士兵、飞机等的）梯形编队

参考例句：

• Officers were drawn largely from the top echelons of society. 这些官员大都来自社会上层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Except in the higher echelons, extensive classification has no place in the classification of vegetation. 除高阶类级之外，外延分类在植物分类中还是没有地位的。 来自辞典例句

9 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。