Buffer zone: 缓冲地带

UN peacekeepers moved in on Tuesday to create a buffer zone between rival factions of the Congolese army.

联合国维和部队于周二进入该地区，在刚果军队敌对的两派系间隔离出一条缓冲地带klj(b*Owdc1h,。

Ration: 定量配给

The agency has been steadily cutting rations to more than 2.8 million people in Southern Africa over the last six months, many of them living with HIV/AIDS and many of them children. Most have been surviving on half a normal ration, or less.

在过去半年中，该机构一直节省开支，并援助了南非超过280万难民，其中包括很多携带艾滋病毒的孩子5qlh~yB=69W。这些人中的大多数只能靠定量配给的一半甚至更少维生8PqLxY~&g#1#E([B。

Casualty: 伤亡（人数）

While a slight majority believe the Iraq war contributed to the long-term security of the United States, 70 percent of Americans think these gains have come at an "unacceptable" cost in military casualties, the poll shows.

据民意调查显示，只有半数多一点的人认为伊拉克战争对美国的安全问题有影响，70%的美国人认为这归咎于不能让人接受的军事伤亡人数^jaFv!_;^hsa。

Head off: 阻止，拦截

In setting up a Commission on Truth and Friendship, the two countries hope to head off a parallel initiative by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who is weighing his own expert commission to review whether justice was done after the 1999 violence, their foreign ministers said after talks with Annan.

经历了1999年的暴力事件，在联合国秘书长安南的呼吁下，两国的外交部长表示，将以互信友好为基础共同成立合作委员会!m!Hy;[a6)q#7|。

Bravado: 虚张声势

Protected by U.S. Black Hawk helicopters, Britain's Tony Blair flew into Iraq on Tuesday in a surprise show of political bravado designed to boost prospects for Iraqi elections and cheer UK troops before Christmas.

在美国直升机的护送下，英国首相布莱尔周二突然现身伊拉克，为伊拉克选举造势，并在圣诞节前鼓舞驻伊的英国官兵+s-QmfEIJnJ。