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2007年VOA标准英语-Baghdad Incident Renews Debate Over Security Co

时间:2007-09-29 03:16来源:互联网 提供网友:mummy   字体: [ ]
    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)
By Al Pessin
Pentagon
21 September 2007

Last Sunday during a shoot-out in Baghdad, American security contractors1 from the Blackwater company, who were protecting a U.S. diplomatic convoy2, killed several Iraqi civilians3.  Blackwater says its guards were firing at insurgents4, but witnesses say at least some of the dead civilians were innocent bystanders.  The incident is under investigation5, but it has renewed the controversy6 over the role of private security forces in Iraq, and raised questions about who controls them and how they can be held responsible for their actions.  VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

According to experts, there are about 20,000 private security contractors in Iraq, including several thousand Iraqis.  They handle such duties as escorting convoys7 and guarding bases and warehouses8.  Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell.

"We believe there are certain functions which can be managed by private security contractors, freeing up our forces to take on more of a combat role," he said.

But some experts, like former defense9 department official Michele Flournoy, believe that is not a good thing.

"We should end the practice of relying on contractors for security functions," she said.  "I think the risks outweigh10 the benefits."

Flournoy, who is co-founder of a new defense thinktank in Washington called the Center for a New American Security, says there are too many ambiguities11 about who controls the private paramilitary groups, and how they can be held accountable for their actions.

"I think we need to move towards a practice of using U.S. government personnel for those functions, either diplomatic security or military forces, so that those legal issues, those rules of engagement and the accountability is absolutely crystal clear," she added.

But other experts note that today's American military is not large enough to perform all the functions needed in a long-term conflict like Iraq.  In fact, in addition to the security contractors working for the military and the State Department, there are more than 150,000 other contractors in Iraq doing things like cooking for the troops, cleaning and transporting supplies.

The Director of the Private Security Company Association of Iraq, Lawrence Peter, says the security contractors provide a vital function, and take great personal risks to support U.S. military and diplomatic missions.

"Regrettably, we've seen far too many security contractors lose their lives here [in Iraq]," he said.  "We've seen far too many Iraqi civilians lose their lives here.  It's easy for people who are not in Iraq to point at this or that and say this or that is wrong.  I know that the people we have working here are doing very good work under very difficult circumstances.  And, when you walk in their shoes you can have a better appreciation12 for it."

Peter, a retired13 U.S. Navy officer, says security contractors are required to follow a gradual escalation14 of force in any incident.  But David Isenberg of the British American Security Information Council says they do not always follow those rules.

"There is at least some history of foreign security contractors in general, and Blackwater in particular, although it's not the only one, where they used force and shot people and killed people, in some cases, where it didn't seem to be warranted," he noted15.

That is where the legal ambiguity16 comes in.  Under an Iraqi law created by the Coalition17 Provisional Authority in the first months after the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime, security contractors are immune from prosecution18 in Iraqi, unless the U.S. government makes a specific exception.  But Pentagon Press Secretary Goeff Morrell says that doesn't mean the contractors are beyond the reach of any law.

"These contractors have immunity19 from Iraqi law," he noted.  "That's not to say they have immunity from U.S. law.  If they do something wrong, they can be referred to the Department of Justice, and if they do something wrong they can even be referred for military justice."

And Morrell says the contractors must be held to the terms of their contracts, including limiting their use of deadly force, or they could do more harm than good to the U.S. effort in Iraq.

"If indeed contractors are behaving in a rogue20, uncivil, heavy-handed way, that is not helpful towards our overall goal that our men and women in uniform are risking their lives for every day," he added.

David Isenberg of the British American Security Information Council acknowledges that in spite of some problems with security contractors in Iraq, they perform important functions.  For example, he says reconstruction21 efforts would virtually stop if the contractors were not available to secure the sites.

"Security contractors are a tool, just like a rifle, a plane or a tank," he noted.  "It's a tool to get a job done.  You can use a tool two different ways.  You can use it badly or you can use it well.  Security contractors have been used both ways."

The contractors from Blackwater are particularly important in escorting U.S. diplomats22 around Baghdad, a practice which resumed Friday on a limited basis after the Iraqi government agreed to ease a ban on the company.

A joint23 U.S.-Iraqi investigation into the incident on September 16th is continuing.  Blackwater says its employees acted "lawfully24 and appropriately" when faced with a threat to their convoy.  An Iraqi official suggested Friday that the situation could be defused if new rules are adopted for security contractors and the company pays compensation to the families of the civilians killed in the incident.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 contractors afd5c0fd2ee43e4ecee8159c7a7c63e4     
n.(建筑、监造中的)承包人( contractor的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后,接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 convoy do6zu     
vt.护送,护卫,护航;n.护送;护送队
参考例句:
  • The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
  • Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。
3 civilians 2a8bdc87d05da507ff4534c9c974b785     
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。
4 insurgents c68be457307815b039a352428718de59     
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
5 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查,调查研究
参考例句:
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
6 controversy 6Z9y0     
n.争论,辩论,争吵
参考例句:
  • That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
  • We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。
7 convoys dc0d0ace5476e19f963b0142aacadeed     
n.(有护航的)船队( convoy的名词复数 );车队;护航(队);护送队
参考例句:
  • Truck convoys often stop over for lunch here. 车队经常在这里停下来吃午饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • A UN official said aid programs will be suspended until there's adequate protection for relief convoys. 一名联合国官员说将会暂停援助项目,直到援助车队能够得到充分的保护为止。 来自辞典例句
8 warehouses 544959798565126142ca2820b4f56271     
仓库,货栈( warehouse的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee. 威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
  • Row upon row of newly built warehouses line the waterfront. 江岸新建的仓库鳞次栉比。
9 defense AxbxB     
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。
10 outweigh gJlxO     
vt.比...更重,...更重要
参考例句:
  • The merits of your plan outweigh the defects.你制定的计划其优点胜过缺点。
  • One's merits outweigh one's short-comings.功大于过。
11 ambiguities c533dc08d00d937d04433f16ae260367     
n.歧义( ambiguity的名词复数 );意义不明确;模棱两可的意思;模棱两可的话
参考例句:
  • His reply was full of ambiguities. 他的答复非常暧昧。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Fortunately, no ambiguities hang about this word or about its opposite, indeterminism. 值得庆幸的是,关于这个词和它的反义词,非决定论都不存在多种解释。 来自哲学部分
12 appreciation Pv9zs     
n.评价;欣赏;感谢;领会,理解;价格上涨
参考例句:
  • I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
  • I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。
13 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
14 escalation doZxW     
n.扩大,增加
参考例句:
  • The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
  • Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句
15 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
16 ambiguity 9xWzT     
n.模棱两可;意义不明确
参考例句:
  • The telegram was misunderstood because of its ambiguity.由于电文意义不明确而造成了误解。
  • Her answer was above all ambiguity.她的回答毫不含糊。
17 coalition pWlyi     
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。
18 prosecution uBWyL     
n.起诉,告发,检举,执行,经营
参考例句:
  • The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
  • He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。
19 immunity dygyQ     
n.优惠;免除;豁免,豁免权
参考例句:
  • The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
  • He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。
20 rogue qCfzo     
n.流氓;v.游手好闲
参考例句:
  • The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
  • They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。
21 reconstruction 3U6xb     
n.重建,再现,复原
参考例句:
  • The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后,该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
  • In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期,技术决定一切。
22 diplomats ccde388e31f0f3bd6f4704d76a1c3319     
n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 );有手腕的人,善于交际的人
参考例句:
  • These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
  • The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 joint m3lx4     
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。
24 lawfully hpYzCv     
adv.守法地,合法地;合理地
参考例句:
  • Lawfully established contracts shall be protected by law. 依法成立的合同应受法律保护。 来自口语例句
  • As my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, till death parts us. 当成是我的合法丈夫,无论疾病灾难,直到死亡把我们分开。 来自电影对白
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