Forces Will Not Back Down During Afghan Transition

 　　NATO's secretary-general says foreign forces in Afghanistan will remain on combat duty during the scheduled transition to Afghan security control in 2014.

　　That statement by Anders Fogh Rasmussen came after U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Leon Panetta said American forces' combat role will end next year, more than a year before the transition is supposed to be complete.

　　Panetta's statement surprised many observers.

　　He said he hopes U.S. troops in Afghanistan, by far the largest and strongest component² of the NATO-led force, will be able to move into a training and support role during the second half of next year.  NATO's plan is to hand full security responsibility to the Afghans at the end of 2014, and while some changes had been expected during a gradual transition, many were surprised at the U.S. defense secretary's remarks.

　　Since Panetta spoke³ on Wednesday, American and NATO officials have been trying to explain the new prominence⁴ of 2013, at least in U.S. plans.  At the conclusion of the defense ministers' meeting, Secretary-General Rasmussen was clear that coalition⁵ troops will be involved in at least some combat during the transition period.

　　“Even after transition has begun across the whole of the country, we will continue to support Afghans to make it happen," he said. "That means training.  It means assistance.  And, where necessary, it also means fighting alongside our Afghan partners."

　　The NATO chief said the U.S. desire to complete its transition from combat to training and support next year does not amount to disengagement from combat.

　　“Let me stress that I have not heard of any American plan to disengage from combat. You will of course see a gradual change of the role of our forces from combat to support.  You might say that the focus will shift from combat to support.  But combat operations will still be needed during that period of transition,” said Rasmussen.

　　NATO is also grappling with France's decision to withdraw its combat troops next year.  With no French combat forces and the United States' desire to accelerate its transition to a support role, Afghanistan's fledgling military and police forces will likely have to take on more responsibility more quickly than had been expected.

　　But despite the French and American announcements, Secretary-General Rasmussen says the scope and pace of the transition will still depend on actual security conditions in Afghanistan as the months go by.

　　NATO's top leaders are expected to have more to say about the Afghanistan transition plan at their summit in Chicago in May.

1 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。

2 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

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 prominence   

n.突出；显著；杰出；重要

参考例句：

• He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
• This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。