VOA慢速英语2014 阿富汗战争13周年

 

AS IT IS 2014-10-08 War in Afghanistan Marks 13th Anniversary 阿富汗战争13周年

Tuesday marks the 13th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. The Afghan war is America’s longest war. The United States military has been active in Afghanistan longer than in any other conflict on foreign soil.

US-led coalition¹ forces started bombing Taliban-controlled positions in Afghanistan on October 7th, 2001. The raids began less than a month after the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States. Those attacks killed nearly 3,000 people, mainly in New York City and just outside Washington, DC.                                                

The bombing and invasion of Afghanistan were launched as part of America’s “war on terrorism”. U.S. officials linked al-Qaida to what happened on September 11th. The group was based in Afghanistan at the time. Its members lived there with the support of the Taliban, an Islamist group that ruled the country.            

A lot has happened over the past 13 years. Afghanistan recently swore-in a new president. In addition, the two countries signed a security agreement. But the new government faces major economic problems and the threat of growing Taliban influence.

In the days after the agreement was signed, Taliban bombers² attacked Afghan army buses in Kabul, the capital. Andrew Wilder is watching Afghanistan for the U.S. Institute of Peace, an independent group. He says the bombing shows how dangerous the country is.

“The security situation is bad and deteriorating³, and I think now getting this new government and political stability is really important so that attention can now focus on improving the security situation.”

Observers say the rise of Islamic State extremists in Syria and Iraq has gained the attention of many Afghans. They remember the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, and say it took attention away from the conflict in Afghanistan.                                 

In recent months, Taliban fighters have made territorial⁴ gains. Their strength has raised questions about Afghan security forces and their ability to fight the rebel forces. 

General John Campbell is the commander of the International Security Assistance Forces, also known as ISAF. He says between 7,000 and 9,000 Afghan forces have been killed or wounded in fighting this year. That is more than the number last year at this time.    

General Campbell says recent fighting in Helmand Province is partly responsible for the higher numbers.

“The last couple of weeks, there has been an uptick, with the Taliban trying to make a statement as they close out the fighting season.”

Afghan forces have been asked to take responsibility for more of the fighting, while ISAF plans to reduce its force to less than 13,000 in the country by the end of the year. Andrew Wilder says that means new duties for the international forces.

“It is important to emphasize that the main mission is not a combat mission…it is a training, advising and assisting mission.”

Much of Afghanistan’s future will depend on relations with its neighbors, especially Pakistan. Janan Mosazai is the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan.

“The new government’s focus in Afghanistan will certainly be on enhancing, enhancing and strengthening efforts to tackle, to defeat terrorists much more effectively.”    

Another problem facing the new government is the Afghan economy. Some observers say the economy is in serious trouble.

U.S. officials warn that corruption⁵ and the illegal drug trade are strong. Andrew Wilder says there is a reason for this.

“What is really going to de-legitimize this government, I think, even more so than a flawed election process will be if it can’t pay salaries, can’t provide social services and the economy collapses⁶.”

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has called on the Taliban to join peace talks. But he said the invitation should not be seen as a sign of weakness.         

Western Nations are promising⁷ to help finance Afghan security forces through 2017.                         

1 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。

2 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

4 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 collapses   

折叠( collapse的第三人称单数 )； 倒塌； 崩溃； （尤指工作劳累后）坐下

参考例句：

• This bridge table collapses. 这张桥牌桌子能折叠。
• Once Russia collapses, the last chance to stop Hitler will be gone. 一旦俄国垮台，抑止希特勒的最后机会就没有了。

7 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。