VOA慢速英语:CIA: Islamic State Group Has More Fighters than Thought

The United States says the Islamic State militant group has at least two times as many fighters as an earlier estimate. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency says the group now has between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters in Iraq and Syria. The old estimate was 10,000. A CIA official reported this week that the new number is based on more people joining the militants since June. He noted the success of militant forces in battle and their declaration of an Islamic state.
美国称伊斯兰国武装组织旗下的武装分子至少是之前估计的两倍。美国中央情报局称，该组织目前在伊拉克和叙利亚有20,000到31,500名武装分子。旧版本的估计只有1万人。本周中情局一位官员报告称，这一新的数字是基于六月份以来有更多人加入这个武装组织。他提到了这支武装势力在战斗中的胜利以及他们宣布成立伊斯兰国。

The new intelligence estimate came a day after President Barack Obama announced his plan for defeating the group. Mr. Obama said he is expanding the U.S operations against the militants to include air strikes in Syria. He said his administration will build an international coalition to defeat Islamic State forces. He also said that no U.S. troops will return to battle in Iraq.
在美国总统奥巴马宣布击败该组织计划的一天之后，这份新的情报评估面世了。奥巴马先生称，他将扩大美国针对这些武装分子的行动，包括空袭叙利亚。他说，美国政府将建立一个国际联盟以打败伊斯兰国势力。他还表示，不会有美军重返伊拉克的战斗。

The president made the announcement Wednesday night in a speech to the American people. Some observers say his plan represents the beginning of a long campaign involving U.S. forces. Mr. Obama recently came under criticism for saying he did not have a strategy for the militants.
总统是在周三晚上的一次讲话中向美国人民宣布了这一消息。一些观察家称，奥巴马的计划代表着美军参与的长期战役的开始。奥巴马总统最近因为声称他对这些武装分子没有战略部署而饱受批评。

For weeks, the U.S. aircraft have been attacking Iraqi territory controlled by Islamic State forces, also known as ISIL. President Obama announced on Wednesday that the air strikes will be expanded to militant positions in Syria.
几个星期来，美国飞机一直在空袭伊斯兰国势力控制的伊拉克领土。奥巴马总统周三宣布，空袭将扩大到叙利亚的武装分子据点。

"We will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are. That means I will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria, as well as Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency. If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven."
“我们将追剿威胁我国的恐怖主义分子，无论他们在哪里。这意味着我会毫不犹豫地针对叙利亚以及伊拉克境内的ISIL分子采取行动。这是我总统任期内的核心原则：如果你威胁美国，你就不会有安全的避风港。”

The president did not say when the air strikes will end. Some U.S. officials say they could last for years.
奥巴马总统没有提到空袭何时会结束。一些美国官员表示，这可能会持续几年。

Mr. Obama also announced plans to send 475 armed forces members to Iraq. They will join the more than 1,000 already serving as advisors in the country.
奥巴马先生还表示，计划派遣475名军事成员到伊拉克。他们将加入之前已经在伊拉克担任顾问的1000多人的行列。

The president said the U.S. aim is to break down and later destroy the militant group. Islamic State fighters recently executed two American journalists. Americans have been shocked by images of the killings.
奥巴马总统表示，美国的目标是瓦解并最终摧毁该武装组织。伊斯兰国武装分子最近处决了两名美国记者。美国人被这些处决图像所震动。

Opinion surveys this week showed a majority of Americans support action against the militants. After the speech, the two main parties expressed support for military strikes against Islamic State forces. Mitch McConnell is the top Republican in the U.S. Senate.
本周的民意调查显示，大部分美国人支持对这些武装分子采取行动。演讲结束后，两个主要政党对军事打击伊斯兰国势力表示了支持。Mitch McConnell是美国参议院的共和党人。

"I'm glad the president has brought a new focus to the effort against ISIL. He needs to take this responsibility head-on. This congress, the next congress, and the next administration have serious work ahead as we consider this multi-year commitment and what it will take to defeat ISIL."
“我很高兴奥巴马总统给打击伊斯兰国的努力带来了新的关注。他需要迎头承担这个责任。在我们将此视为多年承诺并考虑如何打败伊斯兰国之时，本届国会，下届国会和下任政府都必须认真对待。”

Yet Republicans and Democrats disagree about what will be required to defeat the militants. House Speaker John Boehner says air strikes involving U.S. fighter aircraft will not be enough.
然而，共和党人和民主党人就怎样才能打败这些武装分子存在分歧。众议院议长John Boehner表示，有美国参与空袭的战机远远不够。

"An F-16 is not a strategy, and air strikes alone will not accomplish what we are trying to accomplish. And the president's made clear he doesn't want U.S. boots on the ground. Well, somebody's boots have to be on the ground."
“F16战机并不是一种策略，单单空袭无法完成我们想要完成的任务。而奥巴马总统明确表示他不希望投入美军地面部队，那么总得有谁的地面部队投入进去。”

Senator Barbara Boxer of California belongs to the Democratic Party. She supports Mr. Obama's call for an international coalition to defeat the Islamic State.
加州参议员Barbara Boxer隶属于民主党。她支持奥巴马建立一个国际联盟以击败伊斯兰国的呼吁。

"Beware of the people here who were the cheerleaders of the Iraq War, who want to get this president to now say is gonna put combat boots on the ground. That is the wrong recipe. We learned it -- 4,000 dead Americans."
“小心这里曾是伊拉克战争啦啦队的那些人，他们想让总统现在派遣地面部队进入。这是错误的对策。我们有过教训，牺牲了4,000名美国人。”

President Obama is seeking congressional approval to train and supply Syrian opposition fighters. He wants them to battle Islamic State forces operating in Syria. That training would take place in Saudi Arabia, which U.S. officials say has promised to assist the efforts.
奥巴马总统正在努力寻求国会批准训练并装备叙利亚反对派士兵。他希望用这些人来打击叙利亚境内的伊斯兰国势力。该训练将在沙特进行。美国官员表示，沙特已经答应协助。