VOA标准英语2009年-Australia Eyes Early Afghanistan Withdrawa

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
21 October 2009
The Australian government has asked military commanders to find ways to complete their missions in Afghanistan as soon as possible. The announcement is being seen as a clear hint that Canberra may pull its 1,500 troops out of Afghanistan earlier than expected.
 
 
A handout¹ photo shows a member of the Oruzgan Provincial² Police Reserve working with a Australian soldier in southern Afghanistan, 21 Oct 2009
Australian Defense³ Minister John Faulkner has asked military chiefs to recommend how their forces can complete their tasks swiftly, and prepare for an eventual⁴ withdrawal⁵ from Afghanistan.
 
Australia has the largest non-NATO troop presence in the troubled country. This review of its operations there comes after the senior allied⁶ commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, called for a large increase of troops.
 
Canberra says that the soldiers it sent to provide security during elections in August will stay for the presidential run-off, next month.
 
Faulkner says he wants to have a clear idea as to how soon Australian forces might be able to pack up and come home.
 
"I haven't, of course, put a timeline on completing the training task but I certainly asked the Australia Defence Force for any recommendations they have about ensuring that we do complete that important role and responsibility both effectively but in the shortest time frame possible," he said.
 
Political and security analysts⁷ say any Australian withdrawal is likely to be several years away.
 
Faulkner told a parliamentary committee that the government will not start withdrawing troops immediately and they will stay in Afghanistan until local forces can take responsibility for security.
 
A total of 11 Australians have died in Afghanistan in a war that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd acknowledges is unpopular with voters.
 
Canberra deployed⁸ an extra 450 troops in April.

Although Mr. Rudd told lawmakers Wednesday that he is unlikely to send additional forces, he said that Australia is in Afghanistan for the "long haul."
 
About 100,000 international troops are deployed in Afghanistan.
 
Reports of widespread fraud in Afghanistan's presidential elections will be a key point of discussion at a NATO conference in Slovakia on Friday.

1 handout   

n.散发的文字材料；救济品

参考例句：

• I read the handout carefully.我仔细看了这份分发的资料。
• His job was distributing handout at the street-corner.他的工作是在街头发传单。

2 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

3 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。

4 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

5 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

6 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。

7 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

8 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。