Iraq's Police Force Draws Recruits Despite Dangers (2:20)
[VOCABULARY]
♧ explode : v. 폭발하다, 파열하다 -n. explosion
♧ detonate : v. 폭발시키다, 폭파시키다
♧ explosive : n. 폭발물 a. 폭발성의
♧ claim responsibility : v. 자신의 소행이라고 밝히다
♧ insurgent : n. 폭도, 반란자, 반대분자
♧ assassination : n. 암살
♧ kidnapping : n. 유괴. 납치
♧ shortage : n. 부족, 결핍
♧ recruit : n. 신병, 신입생
♧ unemployment : n. 실직, 실업상태
♧ paycheck : n. 급료, 급료지불수표
♧ tempting : a. 유혹하는, 부추기는, 마음이 당기는
♧ cadet : n. 사관학교/경찰학교 생도, 간부후보생
♧ motive : n. 동기, 진의, 목적
♧ patriotic : a. 애국의, 애국심이 강한
♧ avenge : v. ~의 복수를 하다, 앙갚음하다, 원수를 갚다
♧ behead : v. (목을) 베다
♧ sacrifice : v. 희생시키다, 희생시키다
♧ line up : v. 줄서다
♧ convince : v. 확신시키다, 납득시키다
♧ may/might as well : ~라고 해도 무방하다, ~하는 것은 당연하다
In Iraq today, and turning to overseas, at least 15 people were killed in two suicide car bombings in central Baghdad. The bombs exploded about a minute apart on a crowded street. Forty-one people were wounded. U.S. forces found a third bomb nearby and detonated it. It was large - 300 pounds of explosives. A group calling itself al-Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attacks. There were also attacks on police forces in Kirkuk and Bakuba. Four policemen were killed. Now, they are prime targets for attacks by insurgents. So, why are so many Iraqis signing up to be members of the police force? Here's ABC's Dan Harris.
Abdul Zahara Finjan is training for what may be the riskiest job in the world : Iraqi police officer.
"This is such a dangerous job. Why do you want to do it?"
"For defense from(of) my country and my brothers and my kids."
"You are not scared?"
"Scared? A little scared. Not much."
His biggest fear is that insurgents would target his wife and seven children.
"Kill me, ok, I agree. But not kill my families."
Insurgents have killed hundreds of police officers. There have been assassinations, bombings and videotaped kidnappings.
And still the Iraqis keep signing up. The people who run the Baghdad Police College say they have no shortage of recruits. Their explanation? In a country with unemployment well over fifty percent, a police paycheck about two hundred dollars a month is simply too tempting.
The cadets we spoke with insist their motives are patriotic, not financial. Faisal Ghazi says he joined the force to avenge the death of his cousin. A police officer who was beheaded by insurgents. "I'll sacrifice my life," he says, "to capture his killers."
Strangely enough, it seems the more officers get killed, the more recruits there are. In the days after a huge car bomb exploded in the town of Hilo last February, killing dozens of cadets lined up for medical tests, dozens more Iraqis volunteered. Abdul Zahara Finjan was one of them. He says the bombing convinced him that only Iraqis can protect Iraqis.
"The American army protects himself."
In two weeks, Finjan's training will be over and he will hit the street despite the risk. We all have to die some day, he says, it might as well be with honor.
Dan Harris, ABC News, Baghdad.