U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the United States and its allies need a more coherent strategy in Afghanistan. And he believes General David Petraeus, who took command of U.S. forces throughout the Middle East and Central Asia on Friday, can help provide such an approach.
美国国防部长盖茨表示，美国和盟友在阿富汗问题上需要一个更加协调一致的策略。他认为，彼得雷乌斯将军能够帮助形成这样一种战略。彼得雷乌斯星期五正式成为美军在中东和中亚地区的最高指挥官。
With violence down in Iraq, much of the Pentagon's attention is shifting to Afghanistan where the Taliban, al-Qaida and associated groups have increased their attacks in recent months. That is why Secretary Gates moved his successful Iraq commander, General Petraeus, to U.S. Central Command, where he will have ultimate responsibility for both wars.
随著伊拉克的暴力有所减缓，美国国防部正在把注意力转向阿富汗。塔利班、基地组织和相关团伙最近几个月增加了袭击行动。正因为如此，盖茨决定把在伊拉克取得了战果的彼得雷乌斯调到美军中央司令部，统筹负责伊拉克和阿富汗的战事。
After attending the general's change of command ceremony in Florida, Secretary Gates told reporters on his aircraft he believes the international effort in Afghanistan needs a better overall approach. "I think that the military strategy throughout Afghanistan and with our coalition partners needs greater coherence. And I think General Petraeus can help General McKiernan in doing that."
在佛罗里达州出席了为彼得雷乌斯举行的转换头衔的仪式之后，盖茨对和他一同乘飞机的记者表示，在阿富汗问题上，国际社会需要一个更好的总体战略。盖茨说：“我认为在阿富汗的整个军事战略以及我们同盟友之间的合作，都需要更加协调一致。我认为彼得雷乌斯将军在这个问题上能够助麦克尼尔将军一臂之力。”
General David McKiernan is the top U.S. commander in Kabul, and he also answers to the NATO command, whose countries have thousands of troops working alongside U.S. and Afghan forces. The complex structure makes the job of developing and implementing a coherent strategy particularly difficult. Past commanders have tried, with limited success. But Secretary Gates believes General Petraeus, who is widely credited with turning around the war in Iraq, is the right man to try again.
麦克尼尔是美军在阿富汗的最高指挥官，他同时也要听从北约的指挥。在阿富汗，北约各国派遣了数万名官兵同美国和阿富汗部队共同作战。这一复杂的组织结构使得形成和实施步调一致的战略特别困难。以往的一些指挥官曾经尝试过，但是成效不明显。国防部长盖茨认为，彼得雷乌斯将军扭转伊拉克战场的局势，赢得了各方的尊敬，他是在阿富汗再努力一次的正确人选。
"While the two wars we're in are very different, the need to integrate military and civilian is a common theme, and the need to be as inclusive as possible in trying to bring people together. And so I think he brings a broad strategic understanding of the challenges that we face."
盖茨说：“尽管这两场战争非常不同，但是都需要军方和文职部门之间进行协调，也都需要尽可能地把各方力量团结在一起。我认为彼得雷乌斯对我们目前面临的挑战，有著广泛和深刻的战略意识。”
Secretary Gates also called for the expansion of the Afghan army, perhaps beyond the 134-thousand already agreed to. It is now about half that size. Gates said all parties involved agree on the need to move as quickly as possible to expand the Afghan forces. He said the fight, "needs to be an Afghan war, not an American war and not a NATO war."
盖茨国防部长同时还指出，阿富汗方面需要扩军，或许应该超过已经认可的13万4千名官兵的数字。目前，阿富汗部队的总人数只有上面所说的一半。盖茨表示，所有各方都同意要尽快落实扩军计划。他说，这场战争应该是“一场阿富汗的战争，而不是美国或者是北约的战争。”
General Petraeus called for a comprehensive approach to the Afghan conflict as he took command, and he has said some principles he used in Iraq will apply, including increasing security, and that he will need more U.S. troops to do the job. Gates confirmed Friday he has approved sending three more brigades and their support forces, well over ten thousand troops. But they will not be available until the new administration takes office in January.
彼得雷乌斯将军星期五在正式接受新的任命之际，提出在阿富汗问题上需要一个总体战略。他说，在伊拉克采取的一些措施可以用在阿富汗，比如改善安全局势，而且需要增加部队力量来完成使命。盖茨星期五表示，他已经批准向阿富汗增派三个旅以及相关的支援部队，总共超过一万人。但是，这要等到美国新总统明年1月就任之后才能落实。
Gates spent more than a year trying to persuade NATO allies to send more troops to Afghanistan, but he said Friday he does not expect the allies to do much more than they have already done, requiring the further increase in U.S. troops. There are already 32,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, along with about 37,000 from other NATO countries, but many of the allied troops operate under their own special restrictions.
过去一年多以来，盖茨一直努力说服北约盟国向阿富汗增派军队，但是他星期五表示，他不指望北约盟国会比现在做得更多，因此美国方面需要增兵。目前，美军在阿富汗有三万两千人，北约其他国家有三万七千名官兵。但是，很多北约盟国部队的行动都有自己特别的限制。
Petraeus has put together a 200-member team to review the Afghanistan strategy and he is expected to travel to the region almost immediately. His review, along with one being done at the Pentagon and another at the White House, should all be ready for the new president to review next year. Petraeus and the other U.S. military commanders will remain in place when the political leadership changes.
彼得雷乌斯成立了一个由200名专家组成的团队，来评估阿富汗战略，而且他几乎马上就要赶赴那一地区。彼得雷乌斯的战略评估以及国防部和白宫所做的战略评估，都应当在明年年初之前完成，提交新总统审议。在政治领导人交接期间，彼得雷乌斯和其他美国军事指挥官职务都不会改变。 |