2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Calls for More NATO Troops in Afghanistan

By Paula Wolfson
White House
15 February 2007

President Bush says the United States and NATO will stage a spring offensive in Afghanistan against terrorists and Taleban fighters. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House.

President Bush speaks on the Global War on Terrorism at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, 15 Feb 2007

President Bush says, in coming months, as a spring thaw¹ melts the snow and ice in Afghanistan, NATO will go on the offensive.

"The Taleban and al-Qaida are preparing to launch new attacks," he said. "Our strategy is not to go on the defense², but to go on the offense³. This spring, there is going to be a new offensive in Afghanistan, and it is going to be a NATO offensive."

He says the effort will take extra troops and resources, and he urges all NATO allies to help. He also calls on some members of the alliance to lift conditions restricting their forces to relatively⁴ safe areas.

"Allies must lift restrictions⁵ on the forces they do provide, so NATO commanders have the flexibility⁶ they need to defeat the enemy, wherever the enemy may make a stand," he said.

The United States pressured NATO allies during a defense ministers meeting in Spain earlier this month to provide more troops for Afghanistan. But several European allies say there is too much emphasis on a military solution.

Mr. Bush says the United States is doing its part.

"I have ordered an increase of U.S. forces in Afghanistan," said President Bush. "We have extended the stay of 3,200 now in the country for four months, and will deploy⁷ a replacement⁸ force that will sustain this increase for the foreseeable future."

In a speech to the American Enterprise Institute, a private policy research group, the president said the war in Afghanistan does not get as much attention in the United States as the conflict in Iraq. But he said it is important to remember that just five years ago, the Afghan people were living in, what he called, a totalitarian nightmare.

He said progress is being made, citing the election of a democratic government, the creation of new opportunities for the Afghan people, and the construction of roads and other infrastructure⁹ in a country bearing heavy scars of war.

Mr. Bush said attacks escalated¹⁰ in 2006, making it the toughest year since the Taleban were driven from power by U.S.-led forces. But, he said, NATO is helping¹¹ the Afghan people, by training Afghan security forces, improving its intelligence capability¹², and bringing much needed services to the provinces.

"Our commitment is strong," he said. "We will train you, we will help you and we will stand with you as you defend your new democracy."

The president also brought up relations between Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, and stressed they must work together to halt the violence and stop extremists from launching attacks from their common border. He said he will stay in constant contact with Afghan and Pakistani leaders to remind them of their obligations.

1 thaw   

v.（使）融化，（使）变得友善；n.融化，缓和

参考例句：

• The snow is beginning to thaw.雪已开始融化。
• The spring thaw caused heavy flooding.春天解冻引起了洪水泛滥。

2 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。

3 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

4 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

5 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

6 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

7 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

8 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

9 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

10 escalated   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The fighting escalated into a full-scale war. 这场交战逐步扩大为全面战争。
• The demonstration escalated into a pitched battle with the police. 示威逐步升级，演变成了一场同警察的混战。

11 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

12 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。