VOA标准英语2009年-14 Americans Killed in Helicopter Crashes

By Sean Maroney
Islamabad
26 October 2009

NATO officials in Afghanistan say three coalition¹ helicopters crashed Monday in two unrelated incidents, killing² at least 11 U.S. troops and three American civilians³.

NATO officials say one helicopter crashed in western Afghanistan after U.S. and Afghan forces raided what was described as a militant⁴ hideout.

Earlier Monday, two coalition helicopters collided and crashed in southern Afghanistan.

In both cases, authorities say they believe hostile fire was not involved. But the American deaths come as U.S. President Barack Obama considers whether to send more troops to Afghanistan.

The director of Afghanistan Rights Monitor, Ajmal Samadi, tells VOA that the debate half-a-world away is alienating⁵ the people of Afghanistan, causing them to question Washington's commitment.

"That leaves Afghans in a limbo⁶ between a government, which is corrupt⁷, and a Taliban that is extremely violent," said Samadi.

He also notes that eight years after the U.S.-led invasion into Afghanistan, the Taliban is still strong, especially in the country's south.

"We have a shadow government of the Taliban," he said. "And I am afraid some people in Afghanistan are even talking about the return of the Taliban because they see the power of the Taliban."

Meanwhile in Kabul, Afghans clashed with police for the second day during protests held over allegations that foreign troops had desecrated⁸ the Muslim holy book, the Koran.

Afghan health ministry⁹ officials say 15 people were wounded in Monday's protest.

The violence comes as Afghans prepare to go to the polls for a November 7 presidential runoff election between incumbent¹⁰ President Hamid Karzai and former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.

Widespread fraud marred¹¹ the August 20 presidential election, and international observers have voiced concern about the country's ability to hold a new election in such a short amount of time.

Mr. Abdullah told reporters in Kabul Monday that the head of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission has "no credibility" and should be immediately replaced.

1 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。

2 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

5 alienating   

v.使疏远( alienate的现在分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等）

参考例句：

• The phenomena of alienation are widespread. Sports are also alienating. 异化现象普遍存在，体育运动也不例外。 来自互联网
• How can you appeal to them without alienating the mainstream crowd? 你是怎么在不疏忽主流玩家的情况下吸引住他们呢？ 来自互联网

6 limbo   

n.地狱的边缘；监狱

参考例句：

• His life seemed stuck in limbo and he could not go forward and he could not go back.他的生活好像陷入了不知所措的境地，进退两难。
• I didn't know whether my family was alive or dead.I felt as if I was in limbo.我不知道家人是生是死，感觉自己茫然无措。

7 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

8 desecrated   

毁坏或亵渎( desecrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The invading army desecrated this holy place when they camped here. 侵略军在这块圣地上扎营就是对这块圣地的亵渎。
• She shouldn't have desecrated the picture of a religious leader. 她不该亵渎宗教领袖的画像。

9 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

10 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

11 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。