VOA常速英语2007年-US Looks at Ways to Get Help From Pakistani Tri

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
19 November 2007

The U.S. Defense¹ Department says a series of ideas for a new effort to try to get Pakistani tribal² leaders to cooperate in the fight against terrorists is just a staff document and is far from any senior level consideration. The document was quoted in Monday's New York Times. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell says the idea of trying to engage Pakistani tribal leaders came from a visit to Pakistan by the head of U.S. Special Operations Command, Admiral Eric Olson. Admiral Olson is the lead defense official in the effort to increase international cooperation in the global war on terror, and to enhance the capabilities³ of partner nations.

"Admiral Olson went there," he said. "He met with the Pakistanis. And they were both desirous of figuring out ways in which there could be greater cooperation. That's it."

Morrell says the Admiral's staff at Special Operations Command developed some proposals, and the New York Times says those ideas are now being circulated among experts outside the Defense Department. But Morrell says the ideas have not been endorsed⁴ by Admiral Olson or anyone else.

"All this stuff that's written about, has not gone up even back to him, let alone to this building [the Pentagon]," he said.

At the same time, however, Morrell confirms a Pentagon effort to expand Pakistan's Frontier Corps⁵, a locally recruited force along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Morrell says that effort began earlier this year with an appropriation⁶ of $52 million, and the Pentagon wants to expand it next year to $97 million. He says the program provides training and equipment, but not weapons or ammunition⁷, to the Frontier Corps, and also support for efforts to expand its ranks.

The new U.S. focus on local forces in Pakistan comes after successful efforts in western Iraq to enlist⁸ the help of local tribal leaders in the fight against al-Qaida. Related al-Qaida elements operate in the difficult-to-govern areas of western Pakistan, along the Afghanistan border. As in Iraq, the terrorists have operated with the cooperation and protection of local tribes, and as in Iraq, the United States would like to see Pakistani tribal leaders turn against the terrorists.

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

3 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

4 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

6 appropriation   

n.拨款，批准支出

参考例句：

• Our government made an appropriation for the project.我们的政府为那个工程拨出一笔款项。
• The council could note an annual appropriation for this service.议会可以为这项服务表决给他一笔常年经费。

7 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

8 enlist   

vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍

参考例句：

• They come here to enlist men for the army.他们来这儿是为了召兵。
• The conference will make further efforts to enlist the support of the international community for their just struggle. 会议必将进一步动员国际社会，支持他们的正义斗争。