VOA标准英语2011--NATO Vows to Help Libyan People for 'As

NATO Vows¹ to Help Libyan People for 'As Long as Possible'

NATO defense² ministers have pledged to stay the course in their two-month air campaign against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Their comments came a day after coalition³ warplanes carried out some of the most intense air strikes in Tripoli since the operation began in March.
Defense ministers from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) say they are extending the campaign against Libya's Moammar Gadhafi for another 90 days from the end of June.
In a statement issued from their meeting in Brussels, the ministers said the coalition and its partners are determined⁴ to continue their operation to protect the Libyan people for "as long as possible."
They also condemned⁵ what they called "continued attacks" by Gadhafi's government against its own population.
"Gadhafi is history," said NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen as he addressed the conference Wednesday. "It is no longer a question of if he goes, but when he goes. It may take weeks, but it could happen tomorrow. And when he goes, the international community has to be ready."
In their statement, the NATO defense ministers pledged to play a role, "if requested and if necessary," in Libya's post-conflict efforts.
This is a process that Rasmussen says will come from the Libyans.
"We all know that transforming Libya into a modern democratic state will be a long and complex process. Let me stress it is the people of Libya who will shape the country's future," Rasmussen added.
On Thursday, the 22-nation Libyan Contact Group is scheduled to hold talks in the United Arab Emirates on how to assist the rebels fighting Colonel Gadhafi. The group agreed last month to set up a fund to provide the rebels with food, medicine and military supplies.
Meanwhile, NATO defense ministers pledged at their conference to deploy⁶ additional fixed⁷ and rotary⁸ wing aircraft to help intensify⁹ their efforts in Libya.
The Brussels meeting is the last for U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who steps down at the end of this month.

1 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。

2 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。

3 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。

4 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

5 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

6 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

7 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

8 rotary   

adj.(运动等)旋转的；轮转的；转动的

参考例句：

• The central unit is a rotary drum.核心设备是一个旋转的滚筒。
• A rotary table helps to optimize the beam incidence angle.一张旋转的桌子有助于将光线影响之方式角最佳化。

9 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。