VOA常速英语2015--阿富汗要求美军做出撤军调整

Afghanistan Asking for US Troop Withdrawal¹ Adjustment 阿富汗要求美军做出撤军调整

CAPITOL HILL—

The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan says President Ashraf Ghani has requested greater flexibility² in the final drawdown of America’s military presence in the country, expected to be completed by 2017. General John Campbell appeared to confirm recent media reports that the Obama administration is looking at options to adjust the pace of withdrawal this year - while remaining firm that the military mission in Afghanistan will end on time.

The longest war in U.S. history continues to wind down, but this year’s target of reducing U.S. troop levels to less than 6,000 could be in flux³, according to General John Campbell, who appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

据在参议院军事委员会前现身的将军约翰·坎贝尔称，美国历史上持续时间最长的战争继续趋于平静,但今年的目标是将美军减少至低于可能处于不断变动的6000人。

“President Ghani is a credible⁴ and effective partner. He has asked for NATO and the United States to provide some flexibility in our planning to account for the fact that his government remains⁵ in transition.  I have provided options on adjusting our force posture⁶ through my chain of command," said Campbell.

“总统甘尼是值得信赖及非常实际的伙伴。他已要求北约和美国的计划中提供一些灵活性的东西,因为实际上他的这届政府仍处于过渡阶段。通过我的指挥链我提供了调整我方军力态势的选择。”

Slowing the U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan would find backing in the Republican-led Congress, where some lawmakers believe America’s withdrawal from Iraq set the stage for the rise of the Islamic State.  Committee chairman John McCain warned against a repeat in Afghanistan.

美国从阿富汗延缓撤军得到共和党所主导国会的支持,一些议员认为美国从伊拉克的撤军为伊斯兰国的崛起创造了条件。委员会主席约翰·麦凯恩警告切勿重蹈阿富汗的覆辙。

“The lack of presence creates a vacuum, and we have seen what fills that vacuum in Syria and Iraq.  The ungoverned spaces will allow terrorists to foment⁷ the same disaster in Afghanistan as we have seen in Iraq," said  McCain.

“权力缺失创造了一种真空,我们已经亲眼目睹过叙利亚和伊拉克在这段真空中所出现的。不加以管制的温床使得恐怖分子可以在阿富汗煽动我们已经在伊拉克所见一样的灾难。”

A similar concern was expressed a day earlier by former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker.

而之前一天美国驻阿富汗大使前莱恩·克罗克也有着同样的担忧。

“We have to understand that wars don’t end when we withdraw our troops.  That is what our adversaries⁸ are waiting for.  And I hope we maintain the requisite⁹ force levels to ensure that we are supporting the Afghan military and police," said Crocker.

“我们必须意识到当我们撤回军队时战争并不会就此结束。这正是我们的敌人正期待的。我希望我们维持必要的武力水平,确保我们能够支持阿富汗军队和警察。”

The Obama administration is stressing day-to-day flexibility in pursuit of a fixed¹⁰, long-term goal.  White House spokesman Josh Earnest:

奥巴马政府强调日常的灵活性以追求稳定及长期的目标。白宫发言人约什·厄尼斯特说道:

“The president has authorized¹¹ and ordered a staged withdrawal, a responsible withdrawal of American military personnel from Afghanistan.  And the president throughout that time has preserved for himself the flexibility to respond to the security situation on ground," said Earnest.

“总统已经授权并且下令撤退, 美国军事人员从阿富汗负责任的进行撤离。而总统在那个时候已经为自己留足余地以应对地面的安全形势。”

General Campbell said cooperation between the international forces and Afghanistan has improved since President Ghani assumed office and a bilateral¹² agreement was signed allowing a continued U.S. military presence in the country.  He said U.S. and NATO-trained Afghan security forces have been tested in battle, and “held their own against a determined¹³ enemy.”

坎贝尔将军表示自甘尼总统就任以来国际部队和阿富汗间的合作已经加强,而且签署了双边协议允许美军继续驻扎。他表示美国和接受北约训练的阿富汗安全部队一直接受着战场的检验,并且“坚定的同敌人作战。”

1 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

2 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

3 flux   

n.流动；不断的改变

参考例句：

• The market is in a constant state of flux.市场行情在不断变化。
• In most reactors,there is a significant flux of fast neutrons.在大部分反应堆中都有一定强度的快中子流。

4 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

6 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

7 foment   

v.煽动，助长

参考例句：

• The rebels know the truth and seek to foment revolution.那些叛乱者知道真相，并且想办法来挑起革命。
• That's an attempt to foment discord.这是挑拨。

8 adversaries   

n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
• Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句

9 requisite   

adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品

参考例句：

• He hasn't got the requisite qualifications for the job.他不具备这工作所需的资格。
• Food and air are requisite for life.食物和空气是生命的必需品。

10 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

11 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

12 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

13 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。