VOA标准英语2010年-NATO Focuses on Training Police Force

The head of the NATO training mission is in Europe this week with his Afghan counterparts to attend the Afghan National Police Development conference in Brunssum, Holland, discussing the progress of the mission and soliciting¹ support for more assistance.  Lieutenant² General William Caldwell spoke³ exclusively to VOA.

Afghanistan's police force was considered unreliable and corrupt⁴, so last fall NATO stepped in and a new training mission was established under Lieutenant General William Caldwell.

"And so on November 21st, 2009, we stood up a new command inside of Afghanistan because there was a real lack of overall coordination⁵ and collaboration⁶ as to how the help the police forces in that country," he said.  "And that was one of our primary missions.  We have the Army too, but police was a real void that needed to be addressed, and that is how NATO did it, by establishing this command."

His mission is to reform the existing police force and expand it.  He says what he started with was not ideal.

"We recognized within the country here, over half of the police have never been formally trained, so you have a police force out there of about 90,000, 95,000 people and less than half have ever received any formal training," he added.

He says major challenges include working with recruits who speak multiple languages and illiteracy⁷.

"Only about probably 18 percent of our recruits who come in to be police have any level of literacy, and when I say literacy, we are talking about a 3rd grade level of basic reading and writing skills, so 80 percent have none," he noted⁸.

But Caldwell says there is an even more basic problem.

"I would say our biggest challenge really is probably leadership," he explained.  "After 30 years of war here in Afghanistan there is no real leadership amongst the ranks, especially within the police forces.  It just does not exist."

NATO plans to expand the police force to 109,000 by the end of October.  One group it is targeting is Pashtuns from the south of Afghanistan.  Caldwell says they are not part of the police, probably because of Taliban influence in the region.  He is hoping the recent military operation in Helmand province will help spur Pashtuns to join.

"Once they have seen the Afghan security forces come through and clear, and now they see the Afghan government coming in with basic services and programs and development, the thought is they would then feel more inclined to serve as a part of the Afghan security forces and would be willing to sign up and become part of the police," said Caldwell.

Caldwell says corruption⁹ is a challenge across Afghanistan.  Low pay led police to ask for bribes¹⁰, but last month NATO doubled the pay of officers.  A new recruit starts at about $165 a month, plus hazard pay, longevity¹¹ pay and the opportunity for promotions¹². 

A new training culture is also part of the NATO plan for combating corruption among new recruits.

"If we can start as they first come in and teach them the right philosophy and the right habits, and then also work to get more mid-grade level leaders in there, through some leadership development programs we have just finished putting into place, then we are hoping that will eliminate the corruption we see," he said.

U.S. President Barack Obama has set a date of July 2011 as a benchmark to start drawing down U.S. forces in Afghanistan.  Caldwell says that date is about gauging¹³ progress toward the ultimate goal, letting Afhgans take control of their own security.

"I think that by the programs we put in place and the training that we are doing with the Afghans, so that they can be more responsible for things, that is probably a reasonable date that you can expect to see a difference starting to occur," he noted.  "But I do not think anybody thinks that that will be the point by which the mission here will be complete."

This week, Afghan president Hamid Karzai held talks with a Taliban-linked insurgent¹⁴ group.  Caldwell says any effort that supports a peaceful solution rather than a military one is positive.

"The ultimate solution for what happens in Afghanistan really does have to be led by the Afghanistan people and the government of Afghanistan if it is going to work.  It has got to be their solution to their problem that can endure and be best for their people," he said.

Caldwell says his main focus is on quality instead of quantity.  While he has a numerical goal to achieve, he says the best way to get there is to ensure the recruits they choose, have a real chance of completing the training, and becoming good police officers.
 

1 soliciting   

v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求

参考例句：

• A prostitute was soliciting on the street. 一名妓女正在街上拉客。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• China Daily is soliciting subscriptions. 《中国日报》正在征求订户。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 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。

5 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

6 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

7 illiteracy   

n.文盲

参考例句：

• It is encouraging to read that illiteracy is declining.从读报中了解文盲情况正在好转，这是令人鼓舞的。
• We must do away with illiteracy.我们必须扫除文盲。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 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。

10 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

11 longevity   

n.长命；长寿

参考例句：

• Good habits promote longevity.良好的习惯能增长寿命。
• Human longevity runs in families.人类的长寿具有家族遗传性。

12 promotions   

促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传

参考例句：

• All services or promotions must have an appeal and wide application. 所有服务或促销工作都必须具有吸引力和广泛的适用性。
• He promptly directed the highest promotions and decorations for General MacArthur. 他授予麦克阿瑟将军以最高的官阶和勋奖。

13 gauging   

n.测量[试]，测定，计量v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的现在分词 )；估计；计量；划分

参考例句：

• The method is especially attractive for gauging natural streams. 该方法对于测量天然的流注具有特殊的吸引力。 来自辞典例句
• Incommunicative as he was, some time elapsed before I had an opportunity of gauging his mind. 由于他不爱说话，我过了一些时候才有机会探测他的心灵。 来自辞典例句

14 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。