A powerful cross-party parliamentary committee has strongly criticized the British government for its handling of the war in Afghanistan.
英国议会一个极具影响力的跨党派委员会严厉批评英国政府的阿富汗战略。
In blunt terms, the Foreign Affairs Select Committee report says Britain's military mission in Afghanistan has failed to deliver what it promised, because troops are being asked to do too many different tasks.
英国议会外交事务委员会在一份措辞严厉的报告中称，英国在阿富汗的军事使命未能履行承诺，因为部队被要求完成太多不同的任务。
Committee chairman Michael Gapes says mission goals have become less clear over the years.
委员会主席迈克.盖普斯说，英国在阿富汗的军事使命经过这些年已经变得模糊不清。
"There was, after 2001, a change of approach, a form of mission creep, whereby we took on far more priorities than simply security and removing al-Qaeda and the Taliban as their host," Gapes said. "And, we ended up being involved in state-building and counter-narcotics and human rights and nation development, which actually took the focus away from the main priority."
“在2001年后，我们在阿富汗的战略发生了变化，部队的使命慢慢改变了。开始我们的目的仅仅是确保安全，清剿基地组织和塔利班，而之后我们增加了太多重要的任务。而且，我们最终参与了阿富汗的重建、反毒品活动、人权活动和国家发展，这实际上使我们的重心偏离了主要使命。”
Commenting on the report, former head of the British army General Michael Jackson says he believes the committee is trying to stress that there is room for improvement.
英国前陆军司令迈克尔.杰克逊对该报告评论说，他认为委员会是在试图强调，我们的阿富汗战略有待改进。
"What the committee is saying, I think, is that the way in which the job is being done needs some improvement," Jackson said. "It is a complex task, and it involves far more than just the military. We have got to bring it all together and integrate it, not only in Britain but internationally as well."
杰克逊说：“我认为，委员会的意思是，我们在阿富汗的战略需要一些改进。这是个复杂的任务，牵涉很多方面，不仅仅是军事方面。我们必须把英国以及国际上各个方面结合起来进行整合。”
Defending the government's approach to Afghanistan, Armed forces minister Bill Rammell says confronting the Taliban in Afghanistan keeps the streets of Britain safer.
英国国防部负责武装部队的国务大臣比尔.拉梅尔为政府的阿富汗战略辩护说，在阿富汗打击塔利班使英国民众更安全。
"If you go back to 2001, there were huge numbers of terrorists, under Taliban control, being trained in terrorist training camps to target this country and others," Rammell said. "And, I have no doubt that, were we to withdraw tomorrow, then that threat would be returned, and it would increase. And, that is why this campaign is so important."
拉梅尔说：“如果你回想2001年，那时候有大量恐怖分子在塔利班控制之下，他们在恐怖分子训练营接受针对英国和其他国家进行恐怖活动的训练。如果我们明天从阿富汗撤军，我们将再次面临恐怖分子的威胁，这种威胁还会增大，对此我毫无疑问。这就是为什么阿富汗战争如此重要的原因。”
But that view is out of step with many in war-weary Britain. Fifty-two percent of those recently polled by the Independent newspaper support an immediate pull-out of British troops from Afghanistan. And nearly three-out-of-five believe the war against the insurgency cannot be won with military power.
然而，许多厌倦战争的英国人对此持不同意见。在《独立报》最近一次调查中，有52%的人支持英国立即从阿富汗撤军，而有近五分之三的人认为，打击激进分子的斗争靠军事力量是不可能赢得胜利的。 |