美国国防部长突访阿富汗

AS IT IS 2016-07-13 US Defense¹ Secretary Makes Surprise Visit to Afghanistan 美国国防部长突访阿富汗

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter made a surprise stop in Afghanistan Tuesday.

Carter was in the country to meet with President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, as well as U.S. commanders.

The visit comes days after an agreement with international leaders to support Afghanistan with 12,000 NATO troops.

NATO allies also agreed to provide more funding for the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces through 2020.

In a press conference Tuesday with President Ghani, Carter discussed Afghanistan’s economic and anti-corruption reforms. He said the government’s progress on those reforms “is central” to the continued international support for the country.

Also on Tuesday, Carter said under new power, General Mick Nicholson, commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, has greater freedom to strike at the Taliban.

Before the new changes, Nicholson and his forces could only intervene against the Taliban when Afghan government troops requested assistance.

More U.S. troops to remain in Afghanistan

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama announced last week that close to 8,400 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan through the end of his presidency² in January 2017. That is more than the Obama administration had originally planned.

More than 2,000 of the remaining U.S. troops will support the U.S. counterterrorism mission. The mission will target al-Qaida as well as Islamic State fighters trying to take control in eastern Afghanistan.

Words in This Story

counterterrorism - n. actions by a group, army, etc., that are done to prevent terrorist attacks and destroy terrorist networks?

mission - n. a specific military or naval³ task?

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 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

3 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。