美暗示駐伊地面部隊可能參與打擊ISIS
US military leaders have suggested for the first time that ground troops could become involved in combating Islamist militants in Iraq, despite repeated assurances to the contrary from President Barack Obama.
美國軍方領導人首次表示，美軍地面部隊可能參與打擊伊拉克境內的伊斯蘭主義武裝分子，儘管美國總統巴拉克•奧巴馬(Barack Obama)一再作出相反保證。
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, told Congress yesterday that US troops already in Iraq could play a “close combat advisory role” in fighting against forces from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or Isis.
美國參謀長聯席會議主席馬丁•鄧普西(Martin Dempsey)上將昨日對美國國會表示，已經在伊拉克的美軍可能在打擊伊拉克和黎凡特伊斯蘭國(ISIS)武裝分子的戰鬥中扮演“近戰顧問角色”。“If we reach the point where I believe our advisers should accompany Iraqi troops on attacks against specific [Isis] targets, I’ll recommend that to the president,” he said.
他說：“如果到了我認爲我們的顧問應該協同伊拉克部隊對特定(ISIS)目標發動攻擊的時候，我會向總統作出建議。”
The US has about 1,600 troops in Iraq, protecting US sites such as the embassy in Baghdad and serving as advisers to the Iraqi military on planning and co-ordination.
美軍目前在伊拉克有大約1600名官兵，以保護美國的一些機構，比如巴格達美國大使館，並在規劃和協調方面擔任伊拉克軍隊的顧問。In a speech to the nation last week outlining his new strategy for taking on Isis, Mr Obama insisted there would be no US “boots on the ground” in Iraq or Syria. “This will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
奧巴馬上週對全國發表講話，介紹他對ISIS的新戰略，堅稱美軍“不會踏上（伊拉克或敘利亞）的地面”。他說：“這將與伊拉克戰爭和阿富汗戰爭不同。”Although US public opinion appears to be behind air strikes against Isis, especially after the release of gruesome videos of the beheading of two journalists, the White House is worried about a backlash against any open-ended commitment that involves a return to Iraq for US troops.
雖然美國輿論似乎支持空襲ISIS，尤其在兩名記者被斬首的可怕視頻發佈後，但白宮擔心任何涉及美軍重返伊拉克的無止境承諾都會招致反彈。The US expanded the scope of its air strikes in Iraq on Monday when it came to the aid of Iraqi forces fighting Isis southwest of Baghdad. US air strikes over the past month have focused on preventing humanitarian disasters or halting attacks on key infrastructure projects.
美國在本週一擴大在伊拉克空襲的範圍，幫助伊拉克部隊迎擊巴格達西南方向的ISIS武裝力量。過去一個月裏，美軍的空中打擊聚焦於防止人道主義災難或挫敗對關鍵基礎設施的襲擊。
