VOA标准英语2008年-US Troop ‘Surge’ in Iraq One Year Old

By Bill Rodgers
Washington
10 January 2008
 

It was one year ago that President Bush addressed the nation to announce an increase of U.S. combat forces in Iraq.  Sectarian violence was spiraling out of control, American casualties were rising, and some believed the war was lost.  There are signs the so-called troop surge has worked to stabilize¹ large parts of the country, though questions remain whether it will be enough to bring lasting² peace.  More from VOA's Bill Rodgers.

U.S. military officials say the surge of an extra 30,000 troops has helped bring security to many parts of Iraq.  This was the objective 12 months ago when President Bush announced the surge in an address to the nation. 

Now, Mr. Bush says many of its goals have been achieved. "Violence across the country continues to decrease. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have stepped forward to join Concerned Local Citizens groups that are fighting al-Qaida and other extremists. And as the security improves, life is returning to normal in communities across Iraq, with children back in school and shops reopening and markets bustling³ with commerce," he said.

There is notably⁴ less violence than a year ago, particularly sectarian murders.  Civilian⁵ killings⁶ are down an estimated 65 percent.

 U.S. military officers attribute the reduction to a strategy of persuading formerly⁷ hostile Sunni tribal⁸ leaders to go after al-Qaida extremists, who have been responsible for many of the deadliest suicide bombings.

With many former Sunni insurgents⁹ no longer fighting American troops, roadside bombs and other attacks on U.S. forces are down and there are fewer American casualties.

A panel of military experts meeting in Washington agrees this has been key to the surge's success. 

Stephen Biddle of the Council on Foreign Relations recently returned from a trip to Iraq and says there is a reduction in violence. "That spread of negotiated deals has dramatically reduced the violence and set up situations in which it is obvious to the residents in these neighborhoods that it is safe now in ways that it was not 12 months ago," said Biddle.. "The attitude toward Americans is very different, the stability on the ground is very different in much, not all, but in much of the country and I found it quite striking."

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shi'ite dominated government has been unable to meet the political benchmarks set out by President Bush a year ago to achieve political reconciliation¹⁰. Parliament, for example, has been unable to pass key measures.

This lack of progress is a disappointment, says U.S. Assistant Defense¹¹ Secretary Mark Kimmitt. "To see such a significant progress in security with only the foundations of progress in reconciliation is a bit disheartening, not to mention sobering," said Kimmitt. "So 2008 will be a watershed¹² year to see if the surge will continue."

Many Democrats¹³ in Congress say Mr. Bush's policy has been a failure, despite the current reduction of violence in Iraq.

At a recent debate of Democratic presidential candidates, Senator Hillary Clinton said, "There has not been a willingness on the part of the Iraqi government to do what the surge was intended to do, to push them to begin to make the tough decisions. And in the absence of that political action, 23 Americans dying in December is totally unacceptable. You know, there is no more cause for us to be there if the Iraqis are just not going to do what they need to do to take care of their own country."

But bringing all U.S. troops home now is not an option, as long as President Bush remains¹⁴ in office.

1 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

2 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

3 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

4 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

5 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。

6 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

7 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

8 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。

9 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

10 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

11 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。

12 watershed   

n.转折点，分水岭，分界线

参考例句：

• Our marriage was at a watershed.我们的婚姻到了一个转折关头。
• It forms the watershed between the two rivers.它成了两条河流的分水岭。

13 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。