VOA标准英语2009年-Gates: Afghan War 'Not Slipping Through' O

Top U.S. defense¹ officials are acknowledging that American public opinion appears to be turning against the war in Afghanistan, but they point out the Obama administration's strategy for defeating al-Qaida and the Taliban is just beginning.
　
Defense Sec. Robert Gates (L) and Joint² Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen arrive for a news conference at the Pentagon, 03 Sep 2009

Facing eroding³ public support for the war in Afghanistan, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters at the Pentagon President Barack Obama's new strategy for the conflict has not been given a chance to work.

A recent public opinion survey conducted by the Washington Post newspaper found that a majority of Americans say the Afghan war is not worth fighting.

Gates says he realizes there is a limited time to show the new policy is effective and he denied that U.S. and NATO forces are in danger of losing the conflict.

"I do not believe the war is slipping through the administration's fingers. The nation has been at war for eight years. The fact that Americans would be tired of having their sons and daughters at risk and in battle is not surprising," said Gates. "I think what is important, is for us to be able to show over the months to come that the president's strategy is succeeding," he said.

Gates points out President Obama's strategy was announced in March and a new U.S. and NATO commander, General Stanley McChrystal, arrived in Afghanistan in June.

Earlier this week McChrystal delivered a classified report assessing the war and many analysts⁴ expect he will soon ask for more troops and money to fight the battle.

Mr. Obama has ordered 21,000 additional soldiers to Afghanistan and Gates says the extra troops are still arriving.

"So we are only now beginning to be in a position to have the assets in place and the strategy or the military approach in place to begin to implement⁵ the strategy and this is going to take some time," he said.

Gates was joined by Admiral Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Mullen, who says security in Afghanistan is "serious and deteriorating," conceded the military must turn the situation around soon.

"You know how much I remain concerned about the situation there. There is a sense of urgency. Time is not on our side. I believe we understand that and I believe we are going to regain⁶ the initiative," he said.

The United States has 62,000 troops in Afghanistan, nearly double the number from last year. Other countries have contributed about 39,000 soldiers, although many are not allowed to engage in combat or serve in violent areas of the country.

2009 is the deadliest year for foreign forces in Afghanistan since the current conflict began shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States

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 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 eroding   

侵蚀，腐蚀( erode的现在分词 )； 逐渐毁坏，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• The coast is slowly eroding. 海岸正慢慢地被侵蚀。
• Another new development is eroding the age-old stereotype of the male warrior. 另一个新现象是，久已形成的男人皆武士的形象正逐渐消失。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

6 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。