VOA标准英语2009年-Study Calls for New US Strategy in Afghanistan

A major independent research institute has issued a report calling for urgent and significant changes in U.S. military strategy toward Afghanistan. The call comes just as President Obama has launched his own strategy review, and as NATO defense¹ ministers prepare to meet this week, with the alliance's effort in Afghanistan high on their agenda.

The report by the Rand Corporation says the United States needs a new "game-changing" strategy in Afghanistan, emphasizing engagement with local officials, development of the Afghan security forces and fighting corruption². The report also says the United States and its allies need to help the Afghan government defend its borders, improve its relations with Pakistan and use its authority to manage foreign assistance, which the report says would increase its credibility and legitimacy³ in the eyes of the Afghan people.
　
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates (file)

The report appears to mirror comments by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who has said the United States needs to focus on key short-term goals in Afghanistan, including improving security, rather than on the broader Bush Administration goals, such as building a democratic society. Gates has also said one of the main U.S. goals in Afghanistan should be to ensure it is not a base for terrorists, as it was at the time of the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the United States.

One of the Rand report's authors, Christine Fair, agrees with that.

"Whether or not the Taliban remain in Afghanistan is really not our concern," she said. "What we really care about is that it doesn't become a safe haven⁴ for international terrorists seeking to harm us, our interests, or our assets."

The Rand report does not specifically call for more U.S. troops to be sent to Afghanistan, but it does say the United States and its allies need to provide "sustainability" when they make gains on security, economic development or other issues. Pentagon officials say they do need more troops to provide that, and to reverse gains made by insurgents⁵ during the last two years. The U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan has asked for as many as 30,000 more troops. Secretary Gates has endorsed⁶ the proposal, and after some delay President Obama is expected to decide soon on at least some of the request.
　
US soldier with NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) patrols Farah province (file)

On Tuesday, Pentagon Spokesman Bryan Whitman stressed what defense officials see as the urgency of getting more U.S. forces to Afghanistan.

"We feel that the situation is such that we need to add additional military capability⁷ to the security element there so that we can do any number of things," he said. "We've got some important upcoming elections, we've got the spring [fighting season] coming up, we've had some resurgence⁸ in attacks. And so additional military capability is certainly something I would expect to see soon. And we have already."

Whitman was referring to the one additional combat brigade of about 3,500 soldiers, and additional support troops, that have already arrived in Afghanistan.

The Rand report comes the week after the White House announced a high-level Afghanistan policy review, consolidating⁹ a series of government, military and private studies conducted in recent months. The president wants the review finished by the time he attends the NATO summit at the beginning of April.

1 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。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

4 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。

5 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

6 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

8 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。

9 consolidating   

v.（使）巩固， （使）加强( consolidate的现在分词 )；（使）合并

参考例句：

• These measures are meant for consolidating the system of basic medical care. 这些举措旨在夯实基层医疗体系，让老百姓看大病不必出远门。 来自互联网
• We are consolidating the Chinese and English versions of our homepage. 我们将为您提供中英文版本一起的主页。 来自互联网