2007年VOA标准英语-US Military Says Violence in Iraq Has Increased

By Jim Randle
Baghdad
26 September 2007

Iraqi officials say bombings have killed more than 20 people in northern Iraq and Baghdad, a sharp increase in violence after an apparent lull¹. A spokesman for the U.S. military in Iraq says the spike² in attacks is not a surprise.

The wave of bombings includes a suicide car bomb attack aimed at a tribal³ leader near the town of Sinjar, in northwestern Iraq, and still more bombs in Mosul, Baghdad, and elsewhere.

U.S. military spokesman Major General Kevin Bergner says coalition⁴ and Iraqi forces are trying to keep the pressure on extremists.

"There has indeed been an increase in violence in the last few days, largely in areas in which al-Qaida in Iraq operates and with al-Qaida in Iraq signatures, as they have sought to ramp⁵ up attacks," said General Bergner.

There is speculation⁶ that the timing⁷ of the attacks could indicate an organized attempt to undermine claims by U.S. forces that they are making progress toward reducing violence and achieving control over wider areas of Iraq.

He also says the increase is similar to the pattern in previous years when extremists mounted more attacks in conjunction with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

But he told journalists the number of attacks is down from levels seen last year and roughly in line with the amount of violence in 2005.

Bergner also says Iraqi forces showed growing skill in a raid Tuesday with U.S. troops on the Rustamiyah military academy.

They detained employees accused in connection with the death of the school's former commander and the kidnapping of the current officer in charge, who was subsequently freed.

Meanwhile, news reports and officials say Turkey and Iraq have agreed to allow Turkish forces to pursue Kurdish separatists into Iraq. The deal was reportedly made during a visit by Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani to Ankara and is supposed to be signed Thursday.

A Turkish television report says the agreement allows Turkey to carry out small-scale military operations against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq with Baghdad's prior permission.

Turkey says in recent months rebels of the Kurdistan Workers Party have stepped up attacks on Turkish targets from their remote mountain bases in northern Iraq.

Kurdish separatists have been fighting for autonomy in southeastern Turkey since 1984. More than 30,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

1 lull   

v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇

参考例句：

• The drug put Simpson in a lull for thirty minutes.药物使辛普森安静了30分钟。
• Ground fighting flared up again after a two-week lull.经过两个星期的平静之后，地面战又突然爆发了。

2 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

3 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

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 ramp   

n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速

参考例句：

• That driver drove the car up the ramp.那司机将车开上了斜坡。
• The factory don't have that capacity to ramp up.这家工厂没有能力加速生产。

6 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

7 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。