VOA标准英语2010年-Bomber Strikes Iraqi Army Recruits, Ki

An injured man is taken a way from the scene of a suicide attack in Baghdad, Iraq, 17 Aug 2010

A suicide bomber¹ has killed at least 61 people in an attack at an army recruitment center in Baghdad.  More than 125 other people are said to have been injured in the blast.  The attack comes two weeks before a U.S. deadline to remove its combat troops from Iraq.

 The bomber struck as hundreds of recruits had gathered waiting to submit their applications.  It was not clear how the attacker passed numerous checkpoints to reach the center, at the former Defense² Ministry³ in the heart of the capital.

Officials accused al-Qaida in Iraq of planning the blast, the deadliest in months.  There has been no immediate⁴ claim of responsibility.  Insurgents⁵ had vowed⁶ to step up attacks during Ramadan, the Islamic month of spiritual devotion that began last week.

The number of people gathered at the center appeared larger than normal on what was said to be the last day of recruitment for the time being.  With jobs scarce, many had been lining⁷ up for hours to secure a coveted⁸ slot.

Wayne White, a scholar with the Middle East Institute, discusses the violence in Iraq:

Mohammed Jasim witnessed the attack.  Speaking of those killed, Jasim asked, what crime did they commit.  He blamed the government, saying it is unable to protect people.

Politicians are still deadlocked⁹ over how to form a new government, more than five months after inconclusive elections.   This week saw a further setback¹⁰, with the head of the leading coalition¹¹, former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, suspending talks with his closest rival, current Prime Minister Nouri al Malaki.

The stalemate further heightens concerns about the state's ability to establish a security force capable of taking over from the United States. 

American forces have already handed over control of the last combat team to Iraq.  A formal end to combat operations and a draw down to 50,000 troops is slated¹² for the end of the month.  That force will help with training and what are called counter-terrorist missions.  But an end to the U.S. military presence is still planned for the end of next year. 

The blast at the recruitment center appears calculated to deter¹³ Iraqis from filling that void.

 

1 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

2 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。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 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

6 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

7 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

8 coveted   

adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图

参考例句：

• He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。
• Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 deadlocked   

陷入僵局的；僵持不下的

参考例句：

• The plan deadlocked over the funds. 这个计划由于经费问题而搁浅了。
• The meeting deadlocked over the wage issue. 会议因工资问题而停顿下来。

10 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

11 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。

12 slated   

用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Yuki is working up an in-home phonics program slated for Thursdays, and I'm drilling her on English conversation at dinnertime. Yuki每周四还有一次家庭语音课。我在晚餐时训练她的英语口语。
• Bromfield was slated to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. 布罗姆菲尔德被提名为美国农业部长。

13 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。