-
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
The top general from the U.S. military's Africa Command, known as AFRICOM, said on Friday that the rise of radical1 Islamist militant2 group al-Shabab in Somalia makes East Africa a central focus of the U.S. military on the continent.
Gen. William Ward3 (file photo)
General William Ward has pledged continued support to Somalia's transitional federal government and the African Union forces operating there. He made his remarks during a visit to Nairobi, Kenya, which is a key U.S. ally in region.
The general said that al-Shabab's alleged4 link to international terrorist group al-Qaida means that the region is a priority for AFRICOM on the continent. The commander thanked Kenya for its ongoing5 partnership6 with U.S. anti-terrorism efforts.
General Ward highlighted the U.S. military's support of the African Union troops in Somalia and said that the United States would continue to offer logistical assistance.
"The work being done by the African Union through its African Mission there, AMISOM, is work we all support," he said. "It's work we will continue to support. We have had roles in helping7 to train some of those AMISOM forces. We have had roles in helping provide logistical support to the AMISOM forces. And we would certainly look forward to continuing to do that as the number of AMISOM forces continues to rise."
The commander predicted that the "stalemate" in Somalia between the pro-government forces and rebel Islamic militant groups would be broken as the number of AMISOM forces rises.
AMISOM is technically8 neutral in the conflicts between pro-government forces and the rebel groups but has been accused of fighting with the anti-government militias9. AMISOM forces protect key sites in Mogadishu including the airport, the presidential palace, and the seaport10.
Hardline Islamists take position on a street in southern Mogadishu (File)
When asked about U.S. warnings to Eritrea against its alleged support of al-Shabab, the U.S. general condemned11 any outside support for the Somali rebels.
"Any time a nation or a state is purposely doing things that incite12, contribute to instability, insecurity - that is something that none of us would agree with. And we would hope that any legitimate13 government, any legitimate nation would in fact be doing otherwise," he said.
AFRICOM was created in late 2007 and formally activated14 a year later. The new command structure oversees15 military relationships with all African countries except Egypt.
The military command is based in Germany. Reports that AFRICOM headquarters could eventually be based within the African continent have generated controversy16 and some open hostility17 from African leaders. Liberia is the only African nation to have publicly announced its willingness to host the U.S. military African Command.
AFRICOM's official website describes its base in Germany as an "interim18" headquarters.
General Ward also used the visit to praise Kenya for accepting captured Somali pirates that have plagued the waters off of Africa.
He said AFRICOM's role in the continent is to help friendly African countries build their security capacities through mutual19 partnerships20.
1 radical | |
n.激进份子,原子团,根号;adj.根本的,激进的,彻底的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 militant | |
adj.激进的,好斗的;n.激进分子,斗士 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 ward | |
n.守卫,监护,病房,行政区,由监护人或法院保护的人(尤指儿童);vt.守护,躲开 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 alleged | |
a.被指控的,嫌疑的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 ongoing | |
adj.进行中的,前进的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 partnership | |
n.合作关系,伙伴关系 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 helping | |
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 technically | |
adv.专门地,技术上地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 militias | |
n.民兵组织,民兵( militia的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 seaport | |
n.海港,港口,港市 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 condemned | |
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 incite | |
v.引起,激动,煽动 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 legitimate | |
adj.合法的,合理的,合乎逻辑的;v.使合法 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 activated | |
adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 oversees | |
v.监督,监视( oversee的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 controversy | |
n.争论,辩论,争吵 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 hostility | |
n.敌对,敌意;抵制[pl.]交战,战争 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 interim | |
adj.暂时的,临时的;n.间歇,过渡期间 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 partnerships | |
n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 );合伙人身份;合作关系 | |
参考例句: |
|
|