VOA标准英语2008年-Officials: US Military Deaths in Iraq at Lowest

By Suzanne Presto¹
Irbil, Iraq
03 June 2008

Officials in Iraq say 19 U.S. service members died in Iraq in the month of May, the lowest monthly casualty toll² since the start of the war five years ago. Additional casualties already confirmed this month, bring the total number of U.S. military personnel deaths in Iraq to more than 4,080. VOA's Suzanne Presto reports from the northern city of Irbil that the military says security progress in the country has been significant, but cautions it is reversible.

The Multi-National Forces in Iraq say that of the 19 dead in May, 14 were killed in action, one died in the U.S. from wounds sustained in battle in Iraq, and four died in non-combat-related incidents.
　

US soldiers patrol the streets in Baghdad's suburb of Abu Gharib (File)

A spokesman for the Multi-National Forces in Iraq, U.S. Navy Lieutenant³ David Russell, says there have been major security improvements in Iraq.

"There has been significant but uneven⁴ security progress in Iraq," Russell said. "The levels of violence and deaths have been reduced substantially. Al-Qaida in Iraq and a number of other extremist elements have been dealt serious blows over the past months. But they still have the capability⁵ to deliver significant events against innocent Iraqi people."

It is not just the U.S. military that is seeing a decline in violence.

Several days ago, the military said one week in late May saw the lowest level of security incidents in Iraq in more than four years. And Iraqi authorities say violent deaths of Iraqi civilians⁶ and security forces also declined sharply in May, to about 550 people. Comparatively, more than 1,000 Iraqis were killed in violent incidents the previous month.

In part, the military attributes the reduction in violence to both the increased number of troops in the country, as well as a focus on counter-insurgency tactics. Still, the military warns that the progress can still be undermined.

"The progress made is fragile and reversible," Russell said. "A number of factors have contributed to the progress, including an increased number of Iraqi forces and Coalition⁷ forces, and employment of Iraqi forces and Coalition forces in the conduct of counterinsurgency operations across the country."

A Multi-National Forces commander has said the number of Iraqi Army soldiers increased by 52,000 since last June, and Iraqi Special Forces have increased by 1,400 members.

But Lieutenant Russell says it is not just military action that is leading to improved security in Iraq. He says civilians are playing a major role in bringing stability to their neighborhoods.

"There has also developed an attitudinal shift among certain elements in the Iraqi population, rejecting the al-Qaida in Iraq's indiscriminate violence and extremist ideology," Russell said. "These awakenings have prompted tens-of-thousands of Iraqis, some former insurgents⁹, to contribute to local security as so-called Sons of Iraq."

The Sons of Iraq, formerly¹⁰ known as Concerned Local Citizens, are primarily made up of Sunni civilians, who patrol the cities and provide information about insurgent⁸ activities and weapons caches to Iraqi and coalition forces.

1 presto   

adv.急速地；n.急板乐段；adj.急板的

参考例句：

• With something so important,you can't just wave a wand and presto!在这么重大的问题上，你想挥动一下指挥棒，转眼就变过来,办不到！
• I just turned the piece of wire in the lock and hey presto,the door opened.我把金属丝伸到锁孔里一拧，嘿，那门就开了。

2 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

3 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。

4 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

5 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 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。

8 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

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 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。