VOA常速英语2008年-Crocker, Petraeus Report 'Fragile' Progress in

By Al Pessin
Washington
09 April 2008

In a second consecutive¹ day of testimony² at the U.S. Congress, the top American commander in Iraq and the U.S. ambassador reported progress on key security and political issues, but warned that the progress is fragile and maintaining it requires a continuing American commitment. VOA's Al Pessin reports from Washington.

The words "fragile" and "reversible" were again prominent in the testimony. The top coalition³ commander, General David Petraeus, said that is why he is not willing to promise any further withdrawals⁴ of U.S. forces after the last of the 20,000 surge troops end their tours of duty in July.

"It is, again, why the commanders on the ground, why I have recommended our reductions be conditions based," said General Petraeus. "As the ambassador and I both mentioned, there are enormous implications here for the safety and security of our own country with respect to al-Qaida, with respect to the spread of sectarian conflict, regional stability, Iranian influence and so forth⁵."

On Tuesday, General Petraeus revealed that he has recommended a 45-day period of consolidation⁶ starting in July, followed by an assessment⁷ of whether more U.S. troops can withdraw. Analysts⁸ say that means there will likely be close to 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq through most of the rest of this year, including the period around the presidential election and the transition to a new administration.

General Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker spoke⁹ about significant progress by Iraqi security forces, and what the ambassador called sometimes "frustratingly-slow" political progress.

"One conclusion I draw from these signs of progress is that the strategy that began with the surge is working," Ambassador Crocker said. "This does not mean, however, that U.S. support should be open-ended or that the level and nature of our engagement should not diminish over time."

President Bush is scheduled to give his reaction to the Crocker and Petraeus reports on Thursday, including his decisions, based partly on their recommendations, on what U.S. policy will be toward Iraq in the coming months.

1 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

2 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

3 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。

4 withdrawals   

n.收回，取回，撤回( withdrawal的名词复数 )；撤退，撤走；收回[取回，撤回，撤退，撤走]的实例；推出（组织），提走（存款），戒除毒瘾，对说过的话收回，孤僻

参考例句：

• He has made several withdrawals from his bank account. 他从银行账户上提了几次款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is not the bank's policy to deduct interest on withdrawals. 提款需扣除利息这并非是本银行的政策。 来自辞典例句

5 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

6 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

7 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

9 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。