VOA标准英语2008年-New US General Takes Command of NATO Troops in

By Barry Newhouse
Islamabad
03 June 2008

The U.S. general who led allied¹ ground forces in the invasion of Iraq has taken command of NATO troops in Afghanistan. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports General David McKiernan takes charge as commanders in Afghanistan report new progress against Taliban fighters in the south of the country.
　

Afghan President Hamid Karzai (L) sits next to US Gen. David D. McKiernan during changing command ceremony of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, 03 Jun 2008

General McKiernan has held several senior Army posts - most recently as commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe. In 2003, he oversaw² the ground assault that quickly toppled Saddam Hussein's government in Iraq.

During a handover ceremony in Kabul on Tuesday, the general took command of the 40-nation NATO coalition³ called ISAF that has struggled to secure Afghanistan six years after the Taliban regime was removed from power.

"I am humbled⁴ to join the ranks of the fine men and women serving ISAF and I am honored to serve alongside our Afghan hosts and brothers," he said.

General McKiernan takes command of the 50,000 NATO forces in Afghanistan from American General Dan McNeil who is retiring from the Army after 40 years of service.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai told General McKiernan a primary goal is training Afghanistan's security forces.

"You will work to promote the standards of the Afghan Army further, equip them better and enable them eventually together with the rest of the international community to serve this country and to defend it eventually," said Mr. Karzai.

Afghanistan currently has about 57,000 soldiers and officials expect to have a total of 70,000 by the end of the year. Afghan officials have said they may need as many as 200,000 soldiers to secure the country.

General McKiernan takes command during a period of heightened violence, particularly in southern Afghanistan.

But on Monday, outgoing Commander General Dan McNeil told reporters that U.S. Marines recently have driven out Taliban fighters in parts of Helmand Province, a Taliban stronghold, and he suggested that the fighters are now fleeing toward Pakistan.

1 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

2 oversaw   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去式 )

参考例句：

• He will go down as the president who oversaw two historic transitions. 他将作为见证了巴西两次历史性转变的总统，安然引退。 来自互联网
• Dixon oversaw the project as creative director of Design Research Studio. 狄克逊监督项目的创意总监设计研究工作室。 来自互联网

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 humbled   

adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低

参考例句：

• The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
• I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。