VOA常速英语2007年-African Military Officers Train in Kenya for Da

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi, Kenya
07 December 2007
 

Military officers from 12 African countries were in Kenya recently training to be peacekeepers in Darfur and other African Union missions. Cathy Majtenyi attended part of the session and filed this report for VOA.

Military officials from Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and nine other African countries gathered at the International Mine Action Training Centre in Kenya recently.

In classes and through simulated exercises like the one code named "Blue Bonnet," they learned how to run a command post in an African Union or other multinational¹ peacekeeping operation.

The Canadian government is teaching the 10-day course. Training tells trainees², "You're in the army, do something about it!"

"They should come up with a plan or at least an option to present to their commanders saying: 'Sir, we have analyzed³ these things and this is our recommendation to you.' And the commander can say, 'Right, make it happen,'" says Major Alan Woolley, who developed most of the course's material. 

Many of the students will end up serving in the volatile⁴ western Sudan region of Darfur, where rebel groups, government forces and a militia⁵ called the janjaweed have been battling each other and local residents for four years.

An estimated 200,000 people have been killed and two million others displaced by the fighting.

The African Union already has peacekeeping forces in Darfur. United Nations forces are expected to join them by early next year. In early October, 10 Africa Union peacekeepers were killed in the fighting.

Back at the peacekeeper training program, Captain Assane Sekasan from Senegal, explains that he is not intimidated⁶ by such an event. "We have to recognize that we are military and the risk exists everywhere," he says. "In spite of the deaths, we are prepared psychologically and mentally to confront this situation."

Peacekeeping missions can vary in their scope. The United Nations establishes the the aim of each mission, the level of danger and the use of force it permits.

Course instructor⁷ Major Alan Woolley describes the basic concept of military peacekeeping. "We are there to stabilize⁸ a situation (and) lower the level of violence. We cannot eliminate it but we can drop it to a point where negotiations⁹ can continue, some sort of durable¹⁰ solution can be reached, hopefully, and then implemented," he said.

At the end of the course, the military officers are given a certificate, a handshake, and encouragement for the task ahead.

1 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

2 trainees   

新兵( trainee的名词复数 )； 练习生； 接受训练的人； 训练中的动物

参考例句：

• We've taken on our full complement of new trainees. 我们招收的新学员已经满额了。
• The trainees were put through an assault course. 受训人员接受了突击训练课程。

3 analyzed   

v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析

参考例句：

• The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The young man did not analyze the process of his captivation and enrapturement, for love to him was a mystery and could not be analyzed. 这年轻人没有分析自己蛊惑著迷的过程，因为对他来说，爱是个不可分析的迷。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

5 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

6 intimidated   

v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的

参考例句：

• We try to make sure children don't feel intimidated on their first day at school. 我们努力确保孩子们在上学的第一天不胆怯。
• The thief intimidated the boy into not telling the police. 这个贼恫吓那男孩使他不敢向警察报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

8 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

9 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

10 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。