2006年VOA标准英语-Kabul Violence Underscores Simmering Resentment

By Gary Thomas
Washington
30 May 2006

A sudden eruption¹ of violence in Kabul Monday was sparked by a traffic accident involving a U.S. military vehicle. U.S. officials blame a failure of the truck's brakes for the accident. But, the incident added to brewing² resentment³ among Afghans of foreigners in the capital.

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Despite unrest in the countryside, Kabul has been a relatively⁴ calm city since the defeat of the Taleban nearly five years ago. Western aid workers, as well as foreign peacekeepers, have flooded the capital. Businessmen seeking opportunities in Afghanistan's newfound peace also have come.

 

Afghan protesters throw stones at a US military vehicle after traffic accident in Kabul, May 29, 2006  
  

But Afghan analysts⁵ say the riots that erupted Monday after a U.S. military vehicle killed several people in Kabul really should not have come as a surprise. Nazif Shahrani, a professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at Indiana University, says there has been long-simmering resentment among Afghans of the foreigners' lifestyle, which is seen as lavish⁶ compared to that of ordinary Afghans.

"The level of luxury that foreigners who are in Afghanistan are enjoying, both in terms of the kinds of cars they're driving and the houses that they're living in and the prices of rentals⁷ that they've driven sky-high and overall sort of lack of care and concern for the ordinary Afghans - all of those things I think have contributed to the anger, the dismay with the government of Hamid Karzai for not being able to deliver what he has been consistently promising," he said.

Barnett Rubin of the Center for International Cooperation at New York University says many Afghans believe they are not seeing tangible⁸ improvements in their lives from the influx⁹ of foreigners and their aid.

"Over four years after the United States came into Afghanistan, there is still no improvement in the electricity in Kabul city," he said. "There's no improvement in the conditions of roads and traffic in Kabul city. In fact, it's worse, plus the fact that they're suffering from the way that the Coalition¹⁰ is driving there. One of the first issues raised by the Afghan parliament was all the blockades in the roads in Kabul, which again indicate that the foreigners there put their security and convenience ahead of the security and convenience of Afghans."

Ironically, say some analysts, the very aid organizations trying to help Afghanistan have undercut the fledgling Karzai government by recruiting away the most capable Afghans from government service with better pay in the aid sector¹¹.

 
Afghan passes by burnt fascade of a Chinese restaurant, after it was destroyed during Monday's  demonstration¹² in Kabul
  
Analysts say the resentment has also been fuelled by incidents involving civilian¹³ deaths in U.S.-led operations against the Taleban. Nazif Shahrani says the United States and its allies have apologized for such mistakes, but that has not helped the situation.

"U.S. forces, NATO forces, have to take responsibility, and I think they are taking responsibility," he said. "But, still, because of the general environment of frustration¹⁴ and expectations that have not been realized, all of these contribute to the popularity, perhaps, certainly in the south and eastern parts of the country of Taleban, or support for them, at any rate."

There has been a sharp increase in activity by a resurgent Taleban. Analysts say the Taleban has tapped into the simmering resentment against foreigners and dissatisfaction with the government to garner¹⁵ more recruits, especially among the poor youth in rural areas.

1 eruption   

n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作

参考例句：

• The temple was destroyed in the violent eruption of 1470 BC.庙宇在公元前1470年猛烈的火山爆发中摧毁了。
• The eruption of a volcano is spontaneous.火山的爆发是自发的。

2 brewing   

n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• It was obvious that a big storm was brewing up. 很显然，一场暴风雨正在酝酿中。
• She set about brewing some herb tea. 她动手泡一些药茶。

3 resentment   

n.怨愤，忿恨

参考例句：

• All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
• She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。

4 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

5 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。

6 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

7 rentals   

n.租费，租金额( rental的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In some large hotels, the income derived from this source actually exceeds income from room rentals. 有些大旅馆中，这方面的盈利实际上要超过出租客房的盈利。 来自辞典例句
• Clerk: Well, Canadian Gifts is on the lower level. It's across from Prime Time Video Rentals. 噢，礼品店在楼下，在黄金时刻录像出租屋的对面。 来自口语例句

8 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

9 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

10 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。

11 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

12 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

13 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

14 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

15 garner   

v.收藏；取得

参考例句：

• He has garnered extensive support for his proposals.他的提议得到了广泛的支持。
• Squirrels garner nuts for the winter.松鼠为过冬储存松果。