VOA标准英语2014--US Obtains 'Proof of Life' Video of Soldier Captured in Afghanistan

US Obtains 'Proof of Life' Video of Soldier Captured in Afghanistan 

PENTAGON — U.S. military officials say they have obtained new video of U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who was taken captive in Afghanistan more than four years ago.  Officials say the video was taken recently and shows Bergdahl to be frail¹ and in poor health. They hope it will help them learn more about where he is and who is captors are. 

This is an earlier video released a few months after U.S. Army Sergeant² Bowe Bergdahl was captured more than four years ago.  

"I'm scared. I'm scared I won't be able to go home," said Bergdahl.

The new one, which officials say they have obtained from his captors, has not been released to the public.     

Bergdahl was 23 in 2009, when militants³ captured him in eastern Afghanistan's Paktika province.  

At a ceremony honoring American Prisoners of War in September, Defense⁴ Secretary Chuck Hagel said Bergdahl has never been forgotten.

"We protect each other.  And we vow⁵ to never leave a fellow service member behind.  That commitment extends to Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured by enemy forces in Afghanistan more than four years ago.  Our hearts today are with the Bergdahl family.  Using our military, intelligence, and diplomatic tools, the United States is continuing its strong efforts to secure Sergeant Bergdahl’s safe release," said Hagel.

The video gives U.S. officials something more to work with in their efforts to bring Bergdahl home.  For one, it is possible evidence that Bergdahl is alive.  Intelligence analysts⁶ are combing through every shred⁷ of the video hoping to learn more about his captors, their identity, and location.   

Past reports have indicated Bergdahl was being held by members of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network, possibly in Pakistan.  U.S. officials are not commenting on those reports.

The U.S. has been in talks with the Taliban and made Bergdahl's release a condition for any concessions⁸.  

There have been discussions of a possible prisoner swap⁹, in which the U.S. soldier would be freed in exchange for the return of five detainees held at Guantanamo.

U.S. troops are going into their 13th year of fighting in Afghanistan - the longest war in U.S. history.

Bergdahl is the only U.S. soldier known to be held captive in the conflict.  

 

Pentagon officials say Bowe Bergdahl has been gone far too long.  And, they say, they will keep working for his release.

1 frail   

adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的

参考例句：

• Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
• She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。

2 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

3 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

4 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。

5 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

6 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。

7 shred   

v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少

参考例句：

• There is not a shred of truth in what he says.他说的全是骗人的鬼话。
• The food processor can shred all kinds of vegetables.这架食品加工机可将各种蔬菜切丝切条。

8 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

9 swap   

n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易

参考例句：

• I will swap you my bicycle for your radio.我想拿我的自行车换你的收音机。
• This comic was a swap that I got from Nick.这本漫画书是我从尼克那里换来的。