2007年VOA标准英语-US Military Leaders Clarify Statements About Ir

By Jim Fry
Washington
16 February 2007
 
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U.S. military leaders are repeating claims that an elite¹ Iranian military force supplied Iraqi insurgents² with weapons and explosives.  But the Pentagon's chief civilian³ leader and top military officer said they do not know who in the Iranian government is involved. VOA's Jim Fry reports.

Iraqi soldiers have closed the Iranian border at Basra as part of a new effort to halt any Iranian weapons from getting into Iraq.  Media reports have raised questions about who U.S. officials believe is responsible.

Defense4 Secretary Robert Gates, left, accompanied by Joint5 Chiefs Chairman General Peter Pace, gestures during a news conference at the Pentagon" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070521/1438260.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, left, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman General Peter Pace, gestures during a news conference at the Pentagon

At the Pentagon Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Peter Pace met with reporters to clarify.

Pace said it is important to distinguish between intelligence assessments⁷ and facts: "We know that there are explosives and weapons being used inside Iraq that were manufactured in Iran."

U.S. military officials said so Sunday (February 11th) in Iraq. They displayed what they said was proof that Iranian-made roadside bombs were being used against American forces.

A briefer claimed the highest levels of Iranian government were involved.  “The assessments were based on those facts,” said General Pace. “The assessment⁶ by that individual is what he said."

But Pace and Gates did not confirm that assessment: "Whether or not more senior political leaders in Iran know about it, we do not know.  And frankly⁸, for me, either way it is a worry."

A reporter asked, "Given the increasing national skepticism over intelligence claims made by the administration, why should the American public now believe the links now drawn⁹ between Iran and terror groups in Iraq?"

To which the defense secretary replied, "I think that that evidence speaks for itself.  And I hope that the people will see that evidence in that respect.  We are not -- for the umpteenth¹⁰ time -- not looking for an excuse to go to war with Iran.  We are not planning a war with Iran.  What we are trying to do is -- inside Iraq -- disrupt the networks that put these weapons in the hands of those who kill our troops."

Meanwhile in Baghdad, U.S. and Iraqi forces are stepping up joint operations as part of a security crackdown.  Iraqis set up new checkpoints and soldiers conducted searches at multiple locations around the city. Despite the clampdown, there were more car bomb attacks and deaths in the capital.

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 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 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。

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

7 assessments   

n.评估( assessment的名词复数 )；评价；（应偿付金额的）估定；（为征税对财产所作的）估价

参考例句：

• He was shrewd in his personal assessments. 他总能对人作出精明的评价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Surveys show about two-thirds use such assessments, while half employ personality tests. 调查表明，约有三分之二的公司采用了这种测评；而一半的公司则采用工作人员个人品质测试。 来自百科语句

8 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

9 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

10 umpteenth   

adj.第无数次（个）的

参考例句：

• W; `Qmp`tinW/ pron, det: For the umpteenth time, I tell you I don't know! 我告诉你多少次了，我不知道！ 来自辞典例句
• Vera: That's the umpteenth suggestion I've made which you've turned down. 薇拉：这不知是我提出的第几个建议了，你全部不接受。 来自互联网