VOA标准英语2009年-US Commander Predicts 'Tough Year' Ahead in Afg

The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan has welcomed President Barack Obama's approval of 17,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, saying the development will markedly improve deteriorating¹ security conditions in the southern part of the country.
　
Vice-President-elect Joe Biden with US General David McKiernan during visit to ISAF headquarters in Kabul, 10 Jan 2009

Army General David McKiernan says 2009 will be a "tough year" for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. But, he says, that with the addition of two combat brigades during the next several months, he expects the security situation to improve.

"We do see with these additional forces as an opportunity to break this stalemate, at least in terms of security conditions in the south," said General McKiernan. "So I look forward to the arrival of these capabilities² and to further contributions and commitment by the international community."

McKiernan says that while the insurgency³ by the Taliban and other militant⁴ groups in the south and along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is not growing, it is resilient.

In addition to putting more troops at outposts along the border, where insurgents⁶ have been able to move freely, McKiernan says U.S. forces will help develop Afghan police and army counterinsurgency efforts.

"What we want to get to is what I've called the 'tipping point,' where the lead for security is in Afghan units - police and army - and we increasingly are in a more mentoring⁷ and training role," he said.

McKiernan says that for the next three to five years, the United States will need to remain heavily committed in Afghanistan. But he says, it is in the international community's vital interest to provide the country with stability.

"The insurgency is not going to win in Afghanistan," saiod McKiernan. "The vast majority of the people who live in Afghanistan reject the Taliban or other militant insurgent⁵ groups. They have nothing to offer them; they do not bring any hope for a better future. The insurgency will not win in Afghanistan."

The general had initially⁸ requested 30,000 troops. But he says, the additional 17,000 troops will be enough to last through August, when Afghan elections are expected to take place.

1 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

2 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

3 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

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 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

6 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

7 mentoring   

n.mentoring是一种工作关系。mentor通常是处在比mentee更高工作职位上的有影响力的人。他/她有比‘mentee’更丰富的工作经验和知识，并用心支持mentee的职业（发展）。v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• One of the most effective instruments for coaching and mentoring is the "role rehearsal" . 辅导和教学的最有效的手段之一是“角色排练。” 来自辞典例句
• Bell Canada called their mentoring system a buddy-buddy system. 加拿大贝尔公司称他们的训导系统是伙伴—伙伴系统。 来自互联网

8 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。