VOA标准英语2009年-New British Army Chief says Afghan Success

By Jennifer Glasse
London
18 September 2009

 
General David Richards
 
The new head of the British army says success in Afghanistan is vital and the outcome of the conflict there will have a profound effect on geo politics. The general who is about to take command of Britain's 9,000 troops in Afghanistan says it's imperative¹ that international forces show the Afghan population signs of positive change soon.

General David Richards says Afghanistan is the British military's main focus. He says the conflict should not be seen a blueprint² for the future, but that it offers opportunities for the British forces to grow and adapt to 21st century challenges. Success in Afghanistan he says is a grand strategic issue for Britain.

"It is vital to our domestic security that we do not allow Afghanistan to once again become an exporter of al Qaida inspired terrorism or give such people a victory that could inspire a much bigger threat still," said the general.

He says the Taliban only have the support of about five percent of the Afghan people.

"Over 80 percent of the Afghan population still doggedly³ want their government and the international community to succeed, although their patience with our failure to meet the expectations of progress we ironically have done much to create is flagging," said General Richards.

The next commander of British forces in Afghanistan, Major General Nick Carter, told British radio that he understands that he will have to act quickly to keep the Afghan people on his side. 

"We don't have the luxury of time, but 18 months ago there were probably 1,500 American soldiers in the south, there are now 25,000 and there's an awful lot more resources coming into the south as well and with this amount of effort I think that we do have an opportunity during the course of the next year to make a difference, but I absolutely acknowledge that time is not on our side," he said.
 
Still General Carter is optimistic that NATO forces will prevail in Afghanistan. "I think that it will happen slowly, but my goodness me there will be a tipping point when the population will suddenly realize that it's better to be with its government institutions rather than with the insurgent," he said.
 
General Richards is optimistic too. He says his forces know the ingredients for success in Afghanistan, but as in Iraq, it may take a little time to find the correct formula for success. That, he says, would be a stabilized⁴ country able to manage its own security. 
 

1 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

2 blueprint   

n.蓝图，设计图，计划；vt.制成蓝图，计划

参考例句：

• All the machine parts on a blueprint must answer each other.设计图上所有的机器部件都应互相配合。
• The documents contain a blueprint for a nuclear device.文件内附有一张核装置的设计蓝图。

3 doggedly   

adv.顽强地，固执地

参考例句：

• He was still doggedly pursuing his studies.他仍然顽强地进行着自己的研究。
• He trudged doggedly on until he reached the flat.他顽强地、步履艰难地走着，一直走回了公寓。

4 stabilized   

v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The patient's condition stabilized. 患者的病情稳定下来。
• His blood pressure has stabilized. 他的血压已经稳定下来了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》