VOA标准英语2010年-Britain to Host International Conferen

Britain hosts a one-day international conference on Afghanistan this week to try to forge a common strategy to improve security, good governance and development in the war-torn south Asian nation.  There is growing concern about deteriorating¹ conditions on the ground as allies look for an exit strategy.

It has been eight years since a U.S.-led force toppled the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, ushering² in hope for stability, greater freedom and development.

But, that has been hard to come by.  In London, Ahmad Farid Mall has been watching closely as events unfolded in his homeland and he frequently talks with relatives back in Kunduz in northeastern Afghanistan.

"I had information from my relatives in Kunduz that they are thinking to leave the country.  They are not feeling safe.  Every day there are one or two incidents in the city when people are killed, when people are shot," he said.

Mall fled Afghanistan in 1998 and finally settled with his family in London.  There has not been much good news from back home - continued fighting and insurgent³ attacks.

Lack of security is a major issue and the key is training the Afghan forces, says security analyst⁴ Christopher Langton at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

"Our combat troops - what they are doing is sort of holding the line so that the Afghan security forces can be built and their capacity can be developed," he said.

Langton says there has been progress, but to make it sustainable will take time.

Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband speaks during a press conference in London 9File)

Another key element is to try and bring in Taliban insurgents⁵ willing to join the government side, says Britain's Foreign Secretary David Milliband.

"We know it is vital that there is full support for the reintegration of insurgents who are willing to live by the Afghan constitution, defend communities rather than attacking them," said miliband.

But security is not the only issue, a just released U.N. report says Afghans see corruption⁸ as an even bigger problem.

Speaking in London, the head of the U.N. office on drugs and crime, Antonia Maria Costa, discussed the findings.

"Corruption is the biggest problem the Afghan people perceive today - even greater than insecurity or poverty," she said.

Costa says the amount of money going into the pockets of corrupt⁷ officials equals about one quarter of the country's gross domestic product - to the tune⁹ of $2.5 billion.

Security and good governance are vital if development is to take hold, say analysts¹⁰ and those are the issues on the table in London when leaders, ministers and senior officials meet.

But there have been numerous conferences about Afghanistan since the Taliban were ousted¹¹ in late 2001 and billions of dollars have been pledged and spent to help rebuild the country.  In addition, the United States and its allies have more than 100,000 troops to fend⁶ off a growing insurgency¹².  And with a rising death toll¹³ among the soldiers, public opinion for staying on in Afghanistan is waning¹⁴, including in Britain and the United States.

Shoring up support is vital says Christopher Langton.

"Refreshing¹⁵ weakening international political will is going to be a major part of this conference,"  he said.

General consensus¹⁶ is this conference has to come up with a common strategy to move forward and pave the way for an exit strategy.

Ahmad Farid Mall says something has to change.

"I think my people are tired and we cannot have this war, insecurity forever.  I am afraid it can get worse," he said.

Mall says he would like to return home.  He keeps hoping he might do so soon, but is not so sure that will happen.

 

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 ushering   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They were right where the coach-caller was swinging open a coach-door and ushering in two ladies. "他们走到外面时，叫马车的服务员正打开车门，请两位小姐上车。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Immediately the two of them approached others, thanking them, ushering them out one by one. 他们俩马上走到其他人面前，向他们道谢，一个个送走了他们。 来自辞典例句

3 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。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

5 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

6 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

7 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

8 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

9 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

10 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。

11 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

12 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

13 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

14 waning   

adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly. 她对整个想法的热情迅速冷淡了下来。
• The day is waning and the road is ending. 日暮途穷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

15 refreshing   

adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的

参考例句：

• I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
• The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼，特别解乏提神。

16 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？