VOA常速英语2008年-US Middle East Commander Steps Down After Contr

By Al Pessin
Tampa, Florida
28 March 2008

The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, Central Asia and East Africa stepped down Friday, after just a year in command, following allegations he had disagreed with the Bush Administration on some key policies. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the headquarters of U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida.

It was the last day in command for Admiral William Fallon, and it came several months earlier than expected. The Florida sunshine, dress uniforms and upbeat music could not mask the fact that this ceremony was not expected to happen until later in the year, or even next year. That changed when Admiral Fallon was depicted¹ in an Esquire magazine article earlier this month as the only man standing² between the United States and war with Iran.

Indeed, Admiral Fallon did say several months ago that war rhetoric³ from some members of the White House staff was not helpful in his effort to ease tensions in the Middle East. And he has publicly opposed some other key policies, including, initially⁴, the surge of U.S. forces into Iraq.

But announcing Admiral Fallon's retirement⁵ after the article was published, U.S. Defense⁶ Secretary Robert Gates said it was not his views, but rather his failure to put an end to the perception he had ongoing⁷ policy differences with the administration that led to his departure from one of the most important posts in the U.S. military.

At Friday's ceremony, Secretary Gates mentioned the thing that got Admiral Fallon into trouble, his candor⁸.

"Last year, when we were discussing the way forward in Iraq, both the president and I were impressed by, and influenced by, Admiral Fallon's advice and candor," he said. "Last week, we discussed the next steps in Iraq, and again Admiral Fallon played a vital role in our discussions and analyses."

Secretary Gates did not mention Iran specifically, but did refer to Admiral Fallon's role as a sort of U.S. regional diplomat⁹.

"The Middle East as a whole has also benefited from Admiral Fallon's leadership, as he has applied¹⁰ the same strategic thinking and diplomatic skills that were on display during his leadership of Pacific Command," said Secretary Gates. "We can see it in the increasing willingness of nations in the region to extend diplomatic support to Iraq, and to work together to confront shared threats."

Just before his four-star flag was lowered from a flagpole near the shore of Tampa Bay, Admiral Fallon told the gathering¹¹ it is the front-line troops who should get the credit for U.S. military achievements in the Middle East.

"These are real people," he said. "These are the folks that get the job done. These are the people to whom we owe so much in this country and this world."

Admiral Fallon also praised the two men with whom he was reported to have disagreed. He called President Bush a man of "unfailing courage and determination to get the job done and to do it right." And the admiral called his subordinate, the U.S. commander in Iraq General David Petraeus, "a brilliant officer" and "the principal instrument" of the success U.S. forces have had in Iraq during the past year.

Admiral Fallon, who has been in the Navy for nearly 41 years, will remain in uniform for several more weeks, and will officially retire in May. He has had numerous operational assignments, including commands in the Atlantic and the Persian Gulf¹², and with NATO naval¹³ forces. He was also commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, and as deputy chief of the Navy he was at the Pentagon when it was attacked on September 11, 2001. Admiral Fallon is one of the last active U.S. military officers to have served in Vietnam, where he flew missions in Navy combat and reconnaissance aircraft.

Admiral Fallon was replaced on a temporary basis by his deputy, Lieutenant¹⁴ General Martin Dempsey,who will serve until a permanent commander is nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate.

1 depicted   

描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• Other animals were depicted on the periphery of the group. 其他动物在群像的外围加以修饰。
• They depicted the thrilling situation to us in great detail. 他们向我们详细地描述了那激动人心的场面。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

4 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。

5 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

6 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。

7 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

8 candor   

n.坦白，率真

参考例句：

• He covered a wide range of topics with unusual candor.他极其坦率地谈了许多问题。
• He and his wife had avoided candor,and they had drained their marriage.他们夫妻间不坦率，已使婚姻奄奄一息。

9 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

10 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

11 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

12 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

13 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

14 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。