双语新闻:外交官们为何不愿去伊拉克

http://www.sina.com.cn 2007年11月06日 10:04   钱江晚报

  On Oct. 26, the State Department e-mailed 250 diplomats and told them that they might be ordered, whether they like it or not, to fill about 50 positions in Iraq next year. It was no secret the U.S. was considering compulsory Iraq service for its diplomatic corps, but the e-mails sparked outrage nevertheless.

  At a State department meeting on Wednesday, one participant, veteran diplomat Jack Croddy, pointed out the risks of injury and death faced by American diplomats. But he hit closer to the heart of the matter when he told the director general of the Foreign Service, who was leading the meeting, "It's one thing if someone believes in what's going on over there and volunteers, but it's another thing to send someone over there on a forced assignment."

  Iraqis certainly a dangerous place for representatives of the American government. Combat troops are far and away the most likely to be killed or wounded, but diplomats face risks as well. The Green Zone, the heavily fortified home of the U.S. Embassy and the Iraqi government, has been a target for insurgent and militia rocket attacks for years. As the war drags on, the intensity and accuracy of those attacks has increased. Makeshift concrete bunkers are now scattered across the Green Zone, and diplomats are periodically required to don helmets and flak vests when they venture outdoors even within the Green Zone compound. Outside the Green Zone, diplomatic convoys are prime targets for insurgents, militiamen and freelance kidnappers.

双语新闻:外交官们为何不愿去伊拉克

  10月26日,美国国务院给250名外交官发了一封电子邮件,告诉他们明年可能会被派往伊拉克去填补50个职位,不管他们愿不愿意。美国正在考虑强制性地派外交团队前往伊拉克,这已经不是什么秘密了。但是,这些电子邮件还是引发了一片愤怒。

  星期三,在国务院的一次会议上,一名与会者、老资格的外交官杰克·克劳迪指出了美国外交人员面临的伤亡风险。但是他进一步触及了这件事的核心。他告诉主持会议的对外司主任说,“有人相信那里正在发生什么并自愿前往和强迫某人前往是两回事”。

  对于美国政府的代表来说,伊拉克当然是一个危险的地方。战斗部队远不是最容易遭伤亡的,而外交官却面临着风险。重兵把守的美国大使馆和伊拉克政府所在的绿区几年来一直是反叛者和火箭攻击的目标。随着战争的拖延,这种攻击的强度和精度都在提高。临时性的钢筋水泥掩体遍布绿区。外交官们甚至在绿区内活动有时也会被要求带头盔和穿防弹背心。在绿区外,外交车队是反叛者、武装人员和雇佣绑架者的主要袭击目标。

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