Transfer of power in Iraq arrives sooner than expected
In a surprise announcement on Monday 28th June, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari revealed that the handover of sovereignty to Iraq was to be moved from Wednesday, to Monday itself. This report from Andrew Marr in Istanbul:
The choreography wasn't perfect. Iraq's Foreign Minister, Mr Zebari let slip first thing this morning the news that it had been decided to bring forward the transfer of sovereignty to today. A slightly startled-looking Tony Blair then told me we could expect an announcement later on. Diplomats talk of an event in Baghdad at around lunchtime, Mr Blair and George Bush are scheduled to do a joint press conference this afternoon. It's not hard therefore to work out how the day was meant to go.
In the end however perhaps the choreography doesn't matter as much as the story it's supposed to express. An impatient eager Iraqi administration telling America and Britain, ‘bring it on!’ and having their wish quickly granted.
In practice of course, without elections and dependent on coalition forces to stay in power holding down insurgency and terrorism, the Baghdad government is still at best a work-in-progress.
單詞解釋
choreography
planning of a dance routine
let slip
revealed by chance
startled-looking
if someone is startled-looking, they seem very surprised
joint
shared
work out
guess, using these facts
bring it on
if you say ‘bring it on’, you mean you are ready for a challenge
granted
if your wish is granted, you get what you want
holding down
controlling
insurgency
fighting against the government
work-in-progress
work started but not yet completed