2007年VOA标准英语-No More US Combat Troops to Be Based in Africa

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
07 February 2007

U.S. officials say they have no plans to base additional combat forces in Africa as part of the creation of a separate U.S. military command for the continent, announced on Tuesday.  The officials say the command should be operational this year, although it may not reach its full strength until next year.  VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

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A Kenyan contingent prepares for a simulated joint military exercise with US forces (18 August 2006)

Deputy Under Secretary of Defense³ for Policy Ryan Henry provided more information on the Africa Command plan at a news conference Wednesday.

"There are no plans envisioned in this effort on the basing of forces on the continent," he said.

Henry said the Defense Department wants the headquarters for Africa Command to be on the continent, with a staff of about 1,000, including a sizable contingent of diplomats⁴ and aid officials.  But he says he does not expect more U.S. combat troops to be based in Africa, beyond the 1,700 now at the Combined Joint Task Force in Djbouti, performing training, humanitarian⁵ and counter-terrorism missions.

"As currently envisioned, we do not see any increase in stationing of forces," he added.  "We do see the opportunity to work more with host nations, but those would be cooperative endeavors and they would be done on a rotational⁶ basis, some measured in weeks, perhaps some measured in months.  But we just don't see any increase in the stationing of forces on the continent or within the command."

Henry said the number of U.S. troops in Africa will vary as their specific missions evolve over time.  He said the command will focus on providing better and more consistent training tailored to the needs of each country on the continent. 

"The emphasis on the activities would be more in what we can do to help the host nations there on the continent of Africa build up their capability⁷ and their capacity so that they are able to service their own security needs, rather than rely on an outside entity," he explained.

Henry said better security and stability, and improving African armies' understanding of the role of the military in a democratic society, will facilitate development efforts by African governments, aided by civilian⁸ departments of the U.S. government.  But officials say, like the five other regional commands, it will also be responsible for any necessary U.S. military operations in its area.

At the same news conference, Lieutenant⁹ General Walter Sharp, director of the senior military staff, said a 60-member team is forming at European Command headquarters in Germany to work out the details of Africa Command.  General Sharp said he expects the Command to begin operations this year under a four-star officer, like the other regional commands.  President Bush's order requires Africa Command to be fully¹⁰ operational by September of next year.

Undersecretary Henry says the Defense Department and other U.S. government agencies are now beginning to consult with the 53 countries of Africa on the details of Africa Command's future operations.

1 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 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。

4 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

6 rotational   

adj.回转的，轮流的

参考例句：

• A synchronous motor drives the measuring bob at a constant rotational speed.同步马达驱动测锤以恒速旋转。
• With some limitations,this is true also of rotational degrees of freedom.在某些限定条件下，这一说法对转动自由度也成立。

7 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

8 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。

9 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

10 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。