2007年VOA标准英语-Iraq Government Says Need for US Troops Will De

By Jim Randle
Baghdad
11 September 2007

The government of Iraq says the need for U.S. combat troops in the country will decrease in the near future and it welcomed Monday's congressional testimony¹ by the U.S. commander in Iraq and the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq.  VOA's Jim Randle reports from Baghdad.

Advisor2 Muwaffaq al-Rubaie speaks at press conference in Baghdad's heavily fortified3 Green Zone Tuesday, 11 Sept. 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070914/1107060.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Iraqi National Security Advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie speaks at press conference in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone Tuesday, 11 Sept. 2007

Iraqi National Security Advisor Mowaffak al-Rubaie said Iraqi forces are getting stronger and the need for U.S. troops in combat operations will decline soon. 

"We anticipate in the near term a relaxation⁴ of the requirements for coalition⁵ forces in direct combat operations," Rubaie said.

The minister spoke⁶ in Baghdad one day after the long-anticipated report by General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker to the U.S. Congress.  Petraeus said Iraq is difficult and frustrating⁷, but in time, the United States can meet its objectives.  He urged members of Congress who want to quickly withdraw substantial numbers of troops to be patient and give him and Iraq more time.

But Petraeus indicated that some American troops could head home soon.

Iraq's national security advisor was grateful for the comments.

"The government of Iraq welcomes the assessments⁸ of the situation in Iraq by Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus," Rubaie said.

Rubaie said the Iraqi military and police forces are now "formidable" and have taken over security from coalition forces in seven of Iraq's 18 provinces.

"We now have almost 500,000 trained soldiers and police in operations against the terrorists," Rubaie said.

But Rubaie said Iraq will continue to need the support of the coalition for "some time" to train its forces and to deal with what he called a cunning, adaptive, and savage⁹ enemy.

Shortly after Rubaie spoke, the U.S. military announced that coalition forces had killed fifteen terrorists in two raids in the capital, Baghdad.

The U.S. military said another 13 terrorists were detained during the operations.

1 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。

2 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

3 fortified   

adj. 加强的

参考例句：

• He fortified himself against the cold with a hot drink. 他喝了一杯热饮御寒。
• The enemy drew back into a few fortified points. 敌人收缩到几个据点里。

4 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

5 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。

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 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 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

9 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。