VOA标准英语2009年-Afghan, Pakistani Officials Welcome Broader Str

President Barack Obama's appointment of Richard Holbrooke as special representative to Pakistan and Afghanistan has drawn¹ praise from local officials and analysts³ eager for new approaches in U.S. policy. But behind the broad consensus⁴ for change, many remain skeptical⁵ about the chances of success.
　
Richard Holbrooke (file)

The appointment of Holbrooke attempts to address what many analysts and lawmakers say has been desperately⁶ needed - a more comprehensive strategy against extremists who are fighting in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Ambassador Holbrooke Thursday called the current U.S. foreign assistance program in the region "clearly chaotic⁷." He said he plans to work more closely with U.S. generals in Afghanistan to create a better coordinated⁸ policy.

Such a plan will most likely focus on countering Taliban bases in Pakistan's tribal⁹ regions that are blamed for contributing to a spike¹⁰ in violence on both sides of the border.

Pakistani and Afghan officials have very different views on how to resolve that issue - which promises complex negotiations¹¹ for Ambassador Holbrooke.

In Kabul, Afghan Foreign Ministry¹² spokesman Sultan Ahmad Baheen said he hoped Holbrooke's appointment would lead to tougher action against militants¹³ in Pakistan.

"This is an opportunity for the region to encourage Pakistan for better cooperation in the war against terror," he said. "We hope the new envoy¹⁴ focuses especially on the bases of the terrorists which are outside the border of Afghanistan."

In Islamabad Friday, several hundred demonstrators gathered in the downtown chanting slogans against the United States and the Pakistani military for battling Taliban militants in the tribal regions.

They say stop all operation in Bajur and all the tribal areas. They say down with the friends of America - those who are traitors¹⁵.

These demonstrators represent what Pakistani officials say is growing public opposition¹⁶ to covert¹⁷ U.S. airstrikes and ongoing¹⁸ Pakistani military offensives against Taliban fighters in the tribal regions. Pakistan's U.S.-backed government has repeatedly called for a halt to the airstrikes, saying they undermine public support.

Pakistani analyst² Rustam Shah Mohmand, a former ambassador to Afghanistan, expects the Obama administration to continue to rely heavily on military operations in Afghanistan and airstrikes in Pakistan in the coming months.

"I think that the envoy's hands are already tied. Because the decision for the surge has already been taken," he said. "That will mean more exposure of the troops, more attacks, more casualties."

The Obama administration has pledged an equally vigorous diplomatic push aimed at establishing a deeper engagement with Pakistani and Afghan people. Members of his administration have also been vocal¹⁹ supporters of boosting nonmilitary aid to Pakistan, financing projects to improve the quality of life in areas vulnerable to Taliban influence.

But military options appear to remain key to the new president's strategy.

On Friday, Pakistani intelligence officials reported a suspected U.S. drone fired three missiles in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal agency, killing²⁰ five people. If confirmed, the strike would be the first such covert missile strike under President Obama's administration.

1 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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？

5 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

6 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

7 chaotic   

adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的

参考例句：

• Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.最近办公室的情况越来越乱了。
• The traffic in the city was chaotic.这城市的交通糟透了。

8 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

9 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

10 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

11 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

12 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

13 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。

14 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

15 traitors   

卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人

参考例句：

• Traitors are held in infamy. 叛徒为人所不齿。
• Traitors have always been treated with contempt. 叛徒永被人们唾弃。

16 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

17 covert   

adj.隐藏的；暗地里的

参考例句：

• We should learn to fight with enemy in an overt and covert way.我们应学会同敌人做公开和隐蔽的斗争。
• The army carried out covert surveillance of the building for several months.军队对这座建筑物进行了数月的秘密监视。

18 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

19 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

20 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。