2007年VOA标准英语-US Official Urges NATO to Fulfill Mission in Af

By Deborah Tate
Washington
08 March 2007

A senior U.S. State Department official says the United States is pressing its NATO allies to fulfill¹ their mission in Afghanistan. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher says some NATO member countries are falling behind on their commitments because of restrictions² on their troops to engage only in non-combat activities. VOA's Deborah Tate reports.

Richard Boucher

Assistant Secretary Boucher says about a dozen of the 26 NATO countries that have sent troops to Afghanistan did so on condition they be used only for humanitarian³ missions, not combat.

Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Boucher expressed frustration⁴ with such restraints at a time when NATO forces are battling Taleban fighters to head off a threatened spring offensive by the insurgent⁵ group.

"By and large what you hear from countries is 'we have authority from parliament to go on a humanitarian mission to Afghanistan, we do not have authority to put our troops into active combat.' We are saying that this is an alliance," he said. "Everybody needs to participate in whatever needs to be done. Because we had a Taleban resurgence⁶, we have a mission to accomplish as an alliance."

Boucher said the United States continues to press its allies to provide the force NATO has committed for Afghanistan. He noted⁷ that France dropped restrictions on the use of its troops and is prepared to use its forces when needed.

Boucher said overall, NATO is doing well, but could do better.

Some Democrats⁹ expressed skepticism about progress made in Afghanistan. Senator Bob Menendez, a New Jersey¹⁰ Democrat⁸, said the Bush administration's focus on Iraq came at the expense of Afghanistan.

"I do not think all that much progress has been made. We have real challenges. Unfortunately, we diverted attention from finishing the job in Afghanistan when we went into Iraq," Menendez said.

But Assistant Secretary Boucher disagreed. He said there has been progress made in cracking down on the illicit¹¹ drug trade, which has helped fuel the Taleban insurgency¹².

"They have eradicated¹³ some 6,700 hectares of poppy so far this year, whereas this time last year it was down in the hundreds. So there is much more eradication," he said.

Boucher also praised Pakistan for its cooperation, noting that the Pakistani government has launched attacks on training facilities and armed infiltrators and has arrested Taleban leadership figures.

He also said Pakistan has been an important ally in the fight against al-Qaida.

"Pakistan is enormously cooperative, enormously engaged in this fight," added Boucher.  "No country has captured more al-Qaida or lost more men doing it than Pakistan."

Boucher added Pakistan can do more, and said the United States continues to work with the country toward that end.

Boucher appeared before the Senate panel to urge lawmakers to support President Bush's additional $100 billion request for military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

1 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

2 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

3 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

4 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

5 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

6 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

9 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

11 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

12 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

13 eradicated   

画着根的

参考例句：

• Polio has been virtually eradicated in Brazil. 在巴西脊髓灰质炎实际上已经根除。
• The disease has been eradicated from the world. 这种疾病已在全世界得到根除。