2007年VOA标准英语-Iraqi Official Says Blackwater Exit Would Cause

By Jim Randle
Baghdad
23 September 2007

An Iraqi government official says throwing the Blackwater security company out of Iraq would leave a security "vacuum" and divert troops from battle to security duties.  VOA's Jim Randle reports from Baghdad.

Two panels made up of key Iraqi and U.S. officials are investigating a deadly incident involving Blackwater security a week ago that left 11 Iraqis dead.   

One panel seeks to resolve the widely different versions of what happened in the gun battle.  Blackwater says a convoy¹ it was protecting was attacked and guards responded appropriately.  But some Iraqi witnesses say Blackwater started the shooting.

A second panel is reviewing the practices of the many private security companies operating in Iraq and what changes should be made in the laws that govern them.

Iraqi government official Tahseen Sheikhly told reporters the panels could reach conclusions "in a few days."

Iraqi officials initially² said they would end Blackwater's work in Iraq.  But Sheikhly says the firm plays a key role by protecting U.S. diplomats³ and civilian⁴ officials.

"If this company left, it would leave a security vacuum, because foreign embassies and companies depend on protection by this company," Sheikhly said. "If they left immediately there would  be a security vacuum that will demand pulling some troops that work in the field."

Sheikhly spoke⁵ through a translator.

Blackwater resumed guarding a reduced number of U.S. convoys⁶ on Friday.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military again accused Iran of stirring up trouble by shipping⁷ advanced weapons to militants⁸ in Iraq, even though Teheran denies sending the deadly cargos.

U.S. military spokesman Admiral Mark Fox says an Iranian arrested Thursday in northern Iraq was part of a group that smuggles⁹ powerful explosives designed to wreck¹⁰ American armored vehicles and kill U.S. troops.

"When captured, the Quds force officer was posing as a businessman, in reality he is a member of ... the Quds force responsible for all operations in Iraq," Fox said.

Iraq may be getting some diplomatic help soon.  Saturday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he expects to increase the number of U.N. personnel in Iraq as soon as facilities are ready in the cities of Baghdad, Irbil and perhaps Basra

The United Nations reduced its presence in Iraq in 2003 when a bomb hit its Baghdad office killing¹¹ 22 people.  

1 convoy   

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。

2 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

3 diplomats   

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》

4 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。

5 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。

6 convoys   

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

7 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

8 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

9 smuggles   

v.偷运( smuggle的第三人称单数 )；私运；走私；不按规章地偷带（人或物）

参考例句：

10 wreck   

n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难

参考例句：

• Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
• No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。

11 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。