2007年VOA标准英语-US Defense Chief Vows to Defeat Taleban Insurge

By Ayaz Gul
Islamabad
12 February 2007

Defense1 Secretary Robert Gates speaks at a news conference, at Chaklala airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 12 Feb 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070521/0825220.jpg" width="193" vspace="2" border="0" />

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaks at a news conference, at Chaklala airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 12 Feb 2007

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the United States and its allies are determined² to prevent extremists from taking control of Afghanistan again. He made the statement in neighboring Pakistan after talks with President Pervez Musharraf on how to defeat Taleban insurgents³ operating on both sides of the border. From Islamabad, Ayaz Gul reports.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates had complimentary⁴ words for Pakistan Monday, even though the U.S. and Afghan governments have long been complaining that Taleban insurgents are using Pakistani border areas for attacks into Afghanistan.

After meeting with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf here, the Pentagon chief told reporters at an air base near Islamabad their discussions focused on how to prevent militant⁵ activity on the border.

"We talked about the importance of seizing the offensive this spring to deal the Taleban and al-Qaida a strategic set back," said Gates. "So, I think there is a mutual⁶ interest in improving our effectiveness, improving our coordination⁷, and the understanding that we have a real opportunity this spring."

The year 2006 saw the deadliest upsurge in violence in Afghanistan since the removal of the Taleban regime five and a half years ago. There are fears Taleban extremists will step up their attacks as warmer weather melts snow in the mountain passes the insurgents use for infiltration⁸ from the Pakistani side of the border.

President Musharraf and other Pakistani officials have repeatedly argued they are not to blame for the rising violence in Afghanistan, saying they have taken all possible steps to secure the border.

Gates said those steps were being taken at a high cost.

 

"My sense is that Pakistan is playing a very constructive⁹ role," added Gates. "It's incurring¹⁰ significant cost in lives, and I might add in treasure, in fighting this battle on the border. There are always ways that all of us can improve, that includes NATO and the U.S, the Afghans. "

He admitted that the United States neglected Afghanistan after Soviet¹¹ troops withdrew from the country in 1989. The defense secretary says that policy encouraged extremist forces to take control of the country, where the terrorist strikes on the United States in September 2001 were planned.

"After the Soviets¹² left, the United States made a mistake. We neglected Afghanistan and extremism took control of that country," he said. "The United States paid a price for that on September 11, 2001. We won't make that mistake again. We are here for the long haul."

Even as Gates and Mr. Musharraf were meeting, news reports were quoting the governor of Afghanistan's Helmand province as saying 700 insurgents had crossed over from Pakistan in advance of a suspected military operation.

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 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

3 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

4 complimentary   

adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的

参考例句：

• She made some highly complimentary remarks about their school.她对他们的学校给予高度的评价。
• The supermarket operates a complimentary shuttle service.这家超市提供免费购物班车。

5 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

6 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

7 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

8 infiltration   

n.渗透；下渗；渗滤；入渗

参考例句：

• The police tried to prevent infiltration by drug traffickers. 警方尽力阻止毒品走私分子的潜入。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A loss in volume will occur if infiltration takes place. 如果发生了渗润作用，水量就会减少。 来自辞典例句

9 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

10 incurring   

遭受，招致，引起( incur的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。
• He spoke to the Don directly, taking a chance on incurring Michael's ill will. 他直接向老头子谈自己的意见，这显然要冒引起迈克尔反感的风险。 来自教父部分

11 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

12 soviets   

苏维埃（Soviet的复数形式）

参考例句：

• A public challenge could provoke the Soviets to dig in. 公开挑战会促使苏联人一意孤行。
• The Soviets proposed the withdrawal of American ballistic-missile submarines from forward bases. 苏联人建议把美国的弹道导弹潜艇从前沿基地撤走。