Urban Warfare: The Underdog's First Battlefield Choice
巷戰(zhàn)：弱者作戰(zhàn)的首選
By ALAN COWELL
★urban warfare, “城市戰(zhàn)，巷戰(zhàn)”。此外，常見的還有guerrilla warfare 游擊戰(zhàn)，nuclear warfare 核大戰(zhàn)， trench warfare 陣地戰(zhàn)，以及psychological warfare 心理戰(zhàn)。underdog, “可能會輸?shù)?，或處于劣勢的人或隊伍? In their football match with Brazil, Switzerland are the underdogs. 與巴西隊進行足球比賽的瑞士隊是個弱隊。I'm going to campaign like the underdog, and I think that's the way to get elected. 我要以弱勢的身份參加競選，并且我認為（只有）這樣才能當選。（戈爾語）
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.
倫敦，3月26日：每座殘破的建筑都成為狙擊手的藏身之所，每條廢棄的街道都是展開伏擊的戰(zhàn)場。在這種戰(zhàn)斗中，攻守雙方的前進、后撤是以一個或半個街區(qū)為計算單位的，乃至小到一所房子。在考量這種戰(zhàn)斗時，高技術的庇護將讓位于人性的弱點、技能、反應速度和計謀，以及對街巷的熟悉程度。
★aerie=eyrie, “建在巖石高處的鷹或其他猛禽的巢”，其他表示“巢，穴，或窩”的還有nest, lair, den, burrow. thoroughfare, “大街，大道，通衢”：The strand is one of London's busiest thoroughfares. 斯特蘭德大街是倫敦最熱鬧的要道之一。calculation, “計謀，盤算，深思熟慮，慎重的計劃”：He lied with cold calculation. 他經過冷靜的盤算后說了謊。give way to, 此處意為“讓位”：Steam trains gave way to electric trains. 蒸汽火車讓位于電氣火車。它的意思還有：（1）“屈服，不再堅持”：My new evidence forced him to give way. 我的新證據(jù)迫使他屈服；（2）“垮掉，崩潰”：The floor gave way under the heavy weight. 地板被重物壓塌了；（3）“讓路”：You must give way when you come to this junction. 你到了這個路口必須讓路；（4）“聽任自己表現(xiàn)（某種情感）”：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.
從第二次世界大戰(zhàn)中的斯大林格勒和柏林，到1968年美軍攻打的越南順化，直到貝魯特、納布盧斯、貝爾法斯特和摩加迪沙的戰(zhàn)場，巷戰(zhàn)已經成為弱小者武備的核心部分，是一種罔顧大肆渲染平民傷亡的宣傳攻勢并蔑視入侵者優(yōu)勢武力的作戰(zhàn)樣式。
★arsenal, “兵工廠，軍火庫”，也指“一大批儲備的武器”：The country has agreed to reduce its nuclear arsenal. 該國同意削減其核武器數(shù)量。近義詞有depot, depository, repository, armory（武器庫），inventory（存貨清單）等。high ground, “a position of advantage or preeminence 有利的地位，或突出的地位”，在成語 claim the moral high ground中就是這個意思，該成語的意思是“聲稱在道德上比別人高貴”：Both the media and the politicians are trying to claim the moral high ground. 媒體和政客們都試圖表明自己在道德上的優(yōu)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.
正是這開展于正規(guī)軍隊與來去無蹤的守衛(wèi)者之間混亂的、機動靈活的、血腥的戰(zhàn)斗在等待著向巴格達挺進的美軍。
★beckon, “示意，召喚”，這里用作比喻意，又如：I'd like to stay – but work beckons, you know! 我愿意多呆一會兒 – 但是，你知道，工作在召喚我呀！
巷戰(zhàn)：弱者作戰(zhàn)的首選
By ALAN COWELL
★urban warfare, “城市戰(zhàn)，巷戰(zhàn)”。此外，常見的還有guerrilla warfare 游擊戰(zhàn)，nuclear warfare 核大戰(zhàn)， trench warfare 陣地戰(zhàn)，以及psychological warfare 心理戰(zhàn)。underdog, “可能會輸?shù)?，或處于劣勢的人或隊伍? In their football match with Brazil, Switzerland are the underdogs. 與巴西隊進行足球比賽的瑞士隊是個弱隊。I'm going to campaign like the underdog, and I think that's the way to get elected. 我要以弱勢的身份參加競選，并且我認為（只有）這樣才能當選。（戈爾語）
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.
倫敦，3月26日：每座殘破的建筑都成為狙擊手的藏身之所，每條廢棄的街道都是展開伏擊的戰(zhàn)場。在這種戰(zhàn)斗中，攻守雙方的前進、后撤是以一個或半個街區(qū)為計算單位的，乃至小到一所房子。在考量這種戰(zhàn)斗時，高技術的庇護將讓位于人性的弱點、技能、反應速度和計謀，以及對街巷的熟悉程度。
★aerie=eyrie, “建在巖石高處的鷹或其他猛禽的巢”，其他表示“巢，穴，或窩”的還有nest, lair, den, burrow. thoroughfare, “大街，大道，通衢”：The strand is one of London's busiest thoroughfares. 斯特蘭德大街是倫敦最熱鬧的要道之一。calculation, “計謀，盤算，深思熟慮，慎重的計劃”：He lied with cold calculation. 他經過冷靜的盤算后說了謊。give way to, 此處意為“讓位”：Steam trains gave way to electric trains. 蒸汽火車讓位于電氣火車。它的意思還有：（1）“屈服，不再堅持”：My new evidence forced him to give way. 我的新證據(jù)迫使他屈服；（2）“垮掉，崩潰”：The floor gave way under the heavy weight. 地板被重物壓塌了；（3）“讓路”：You must give way when you come to this junction. 你到了這個路口必須讓路；（4）“聽任自己表現(xiàn)（某種情感）”：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.
從第二次世界大戰(zhàn)中的斯大林格勒和柏林，到1968年美軍攻打的越南順化，直到貝魯特、納布盧斯、貝爾法斯特和摩加迪沙的戰(zhàn)場，巷戰(zhàn)已經成為弱小者武備的核心部分，是一種罔顧大肆渲染平民傷亡的宣傳攻勢并蔑視入侵者優(yōu)勢武力的作戰(zhàn)樣式。
★arsenal, “兵工廠，軍火庫”，也指“一大批儲備的武器”：The country has agreed to reduce its nuclear arsenal. 該國同意削減其核武器數(shù)量。近義詞有depot, depository, repository, armory（武器庫），inventory（存貨清單）等。high ground, “a position of advantage or preeminence 有利的地位，或突出的地位”，在成語 claim the moral high ground中就是這個意思，該成語的意思是“聲稱在道德上比別人高貴”：Both the media and the politicians are trying to claim the moral high ground. 媒體和政客們都試圖表明自己在道德上的優(yōu)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.
正是這開展于正規(guī)軍隊與來去無蹤的守衛(wèi)者之間混亂的、機動靈活的、血腥的戰(zhàn)斗在等待著向巴格達挺進的美軍。
★beckon, “示意，召喚”，這里用作比喻意，又如：I'd like to stay – but work beckons, you know! 我愿意多呆一會兒 – 但是，你知道，工作在召喚我呀！