VOA标准英语2009年-Taliban Attack Government Buildings South

The latest offensive by the Taliban on Afghanistan's government infrastructure¹ has taken place in a province adjacent to the national capital. Authorities say in the extended battle in Logar province at least two policemen and four of the assailants died.
　
Afghan police take position near a building occupied by Taliban militants² in a brazen³ daytime assault in Pul-i-Alam, the capital of Logar province, 10 Aug 2009

Taliban insurgents⁴ fired rocket-propelled grenades and a suicide bomber⁵ blew himself up as part of a mid-day attack on a provincial⁶ government compound, just a one-hour drive south of the national capital.

The NATO-led international force in Afghanistan sent troops to the scene to aid Afghan soldiers and police.

Authorities say they quickly killed two of the gunmen, but two others continued to fire machine guns in the extended battle in Pul-i-Alam, 50 kilometers from Kabul.

Witnesses say U.S. military helicopters were part of the response force, and one aircraft fired a rocket into a multi-story building still under construction which the insurgents had seized, used to launch their attack and had rigged with explosives.

Interior Ministry⁷ spokesman Zamary Bashary tells VOA News authorities had been expecting the government center of Logar province to be targeted by the Taliban.

Bashary says this was no surprise and security measures are in place to try to prevent such attacks. He adds authorities are working to fill security gaps to better defend against such incidents in the future.

The Afghan forces are now facing a Taliban that appears to be moving beyond their traditional strongholds in the southern part of the country. The assault in Logar follows similar attacks in two other provinces last month.

The latest Taliban violence occurred 10 days before Afghanistan is set to go to the polls. The insurgents have vowed⁸ to disrupt the presidential election and have warned people not to vote.

President Hamid Karzai, who unveiled his re-election campaign platform Monday, said if he is victorious⁹ he will invite the Taliban and other militants to a grand tribal¹⁰ council on the condition they first stop fighting the government.

1 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 brazen   

adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的

参考例句：

• The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
• Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败，而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。

4 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

5 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

6 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。

7 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。

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。

9 victorious   

adj.胜利的，得胜的

参考例句：

• We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。

10 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。