VOA标准英语2010年-NATO Defense Chiefs Cite Progress in A

A roundtable meeting of NATO defense¹ ministers at headquarters in Brussels, 10 June 2010

NATO defense ministers say progress is being made in Afghanistan despite tough resistance from the Taliban insurgency².

In a statement as they wrapped up a two-day meeting in Brussels, NATO defense ministers described military operations in Afghanistan as making measured progress. But they acknowledged significant challenges remain. That sentiment was shared by NATO's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in his remarks to the ministers.

"We expect, the Afghan people expect and our populations expect, to see progress. We're only halfway³ through this year, but progress is visible - political and military progress," Rasmussen said.

NATO ministers point specifically to two Afghan regions – Central Helmand and Kandahar – where their troops have focused on routing the Taliban insurgency. Rasmussen also pointed⁴ to political markers, including a recent peace jirga, or meeting, in Afghanistan gathering⁵ key players, and upcoming parliamentary elections.

Still, the mission has faced significant setbacks, with more than two-dozen NATO troops killed this week alone. On Thursday, NATO's force commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, said a key operation in Kandahar would go slower than originally planned.

Public and political frustration⁶ is also growing after nine years of fighting the Taliban. Still, Rasmussen told a press conference that NATO would likely begin transferring security operations to Afghan forces as planned.

"I still think it is still a realistic goal that the transition process can start by the end of this year. I have continuously stressed that or course it is a condition-based process and not a calendar-driven process," he adds.

Rasmussen has joined Washington in urging NATO allies to send more trainers to Afghanistan to strengthen Afghan police and military forces.

阿

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 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

3 halfway   

adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途

参考例句：

• We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路，天就黑了。
• In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上，最忌讳的是有始无终。

4 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

5 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

6 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。