Urban Warfare: The Underdog's First Battlefield Choice

　　By ALAN COWELL

　　【参考译文】巷战：弱者作战的首选

　　【注释】urban warfare,“城市战，巷战”。此外，常见的还有guerrilla warfare游击战，nuclear warfare核大战，trench warfare阵地战，以及psychological warfare心理战。underdog,“可能会输的，或处于劣势的人或队伍”: In their football match with Brazil, Switzerland are the underdogs.与巴西队进行足球比赛的瑞士队是个弱队。I'm going to campaign like the underdog, and I think that's the way to get elected.我要以弱势的身份参加竞选，并且我认为(只有)这样才能当选。(戈尔语)

　　LONDON, March 26：Each battered high-rise becomes a sniper's aerie, each deserted thoroughfare an ambush zone. In this kind of warfare, advances and retreats are measured in blocks or half-blocks, or even just houses. In the calculations of battle, the shield of technology gives way to human failings and human skills，speed and deception, close knowledge of streets and alleys.

　　【参考译文】伦敦，3月26日：每座残破的建筑都成为狙击手的藏身之所，每条废弃的街道都是展开伏击的战场。在这种战斗中，攻守双方的前进、后撤是以一个或半个街区为计算单位的，乃至小到一所房子。在考量这种战斗时，高技术的庇护将让位于人性的弱点、技能、反应速度和计谋，以及对街巷的熟悉程度。

　　【注释】aerie=eyrie,“建在岩石高处的鹰或其他猛禽的巢”，其他表示“巢，穴，或窝”的还有nest, lair, den, burrow. thoroughfare,“大街，大道，通衢”：The strand is one of London's busiest thoroughfares.斯特兰德大街是伦敦最热闹的要道之一。calculation,“计谋，盘算，深思熟虑，慎重的计划”：He lied with cold calculation.他经过冷静的盘算后说了谎。give way to,此处意为“让位”：Steam trains gave way to electric trains.蒸汽火车让位于电气火车。它的意思还有：(1)“屈服，不再坚持”：My new evidence forced him to give way.我的新证据迫使他屈服；(2)“垮掉，崩溃”：The floor gave way under the heavy weight.地板被重物压塌了；(3)“让路”：You must give way when you come to this junction.你到了这个路口必须让路；(4)“听任自己表现(某种情感)”：He gave way to tears.他痛哭流涕。

　　Since Stalingrad and Berlin in the Second World War, to the American assault on Hue, Vietnam, in 1968 and on to the war zones of Beirut or Nablus, Belfast or Mogadishu, urban warfare has become a central part of the underdog's arsenal，a fight without scruples for the high ground of propaganda that exploits civilian losses and denies the intruder's superior might.

　　【参考译文】从第二次世界大战中的斯大林格勒和柏林，到1968年美军攻打的越南顺化，直到贝鲁特、纳布卢斯、贝尔法斯特和摩加迪沙的战场，巷战已经成为弱小者武备的核心部分，是一种罔顾大肆渲染平民伤亡的宣传攻势并蔑视入侵者优势武力的作战样式。

　　【注释】arsenal,“兵工厂，军火库”，也指“一大批储备的武器”：The country has agreed to reduce its nuclear arsenal.该国同意削减其核武器数量。近义词有depot, depository, repository, armory(武器库)，inventory(存货清单)等。high ground,“a position of advantage or preeminence有利的地位，或突出的地位”，在成语claim the moral high ground中就是这个意思，该成语的意思是“声称在道德上比别人高贵”：Both the media and the politicians are trying to claim the moral high ground.媒体和政客们都试图表明自己在道德上的优越。

　　And it is precisely that messy, manipulative and murderous kind of fighting between conventional forces and elusive defenders that could beckon Americans as they approach Baghdad.

　　【参考译文】正是这开展于正规军队与来去无踪的守卫者之间混乱的、机动灵活的、血腥的战斗在等待着向巴格达挺进的美军。

　　【注释】beckon,“示意，召唤”，这里用作比喻意，又如：I'd like to stay but work beckons, you know!我愿意多呆一会儿，但是，你知道，工作在召唤我呀！

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