VOA标准英语2009年-NATO Ministers Endorse McChrystal Afghanis

By Robert Raffaele
Washington
24 October 2009
 

As NATO troops engage Taliban insurgents¹ throughout Afghanistan, the top commander's recommendation for additional troops has earned a key endorsement².

NATO defense³ ministers meeting in Slovakia, expressed "broad support" for their general's plan.

 
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen talks to reporters in Slovakia, 23 Oct 2009
"What we need is a much broader strategy which stabilizes⁴ the whole Afghan society," said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

The endorsement goes to the core of a strategic debate generated by General Stanley McChrystal's grim private assessment⁵ of the war effort. He also attended the Slovakia meeting.

The alliance commander is believed to have proposed that President Obama send tens of thousand more troops to the fight in Afghanistan.

Rasmussen said that defense ministers have a "general shared view" that Afghanistan must be empowered to defend itself.

"The only way to ensure that Afghanistan does not become, once again, a safe haven⁶ for terrorists is if it is made strong enough to resist the insurgency⁷ as well," he said. "The Taliban hosted al-Qaida in the past, [and] extreme elements of the Taliban could well do so in the future"

Rasmussen hinted the ministers want to "progressively" hand over lead security responsibilities to the Afghan army and the police when they are ready for the transition.

 
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, 21 Oct 2009
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who also also addressed reporters, declined to discuss the Obama administration's deliberations. But he vowed⁸ the U.S. would not abandon its central mission in Afghanistan, which President Obama has said is the destruction of the al-Qaida terror network.

"We're looking at a full range of activities and our strategy in Afghanistan, as has been said publicly in Washington and as I've said, we're not pulling out," he said. "I think any reduction is unlikely. The question is: do we have the strategy right?"

Gates also said he is heartened by the NATO alliance's commitment to Afghanistan.

1 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

2 endorsement   

n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注

参考例句：

• We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。
• His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。

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 stabilizes   

n.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的名词复数 )v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The broadbased attachment of the mesenteric root stabilizes the small bowel. 肠系膜根部基底宽阔的附着面使小肠得以稳定。 来自辞典例句
• The available supply of industrial product and produce stabilizes growth. 工业品与农产品的有效供给稳定增长。 来自互联网

5 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

6 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

7 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

8 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。