Germany Says US Troop Withdrawal Regrettable

 

Douglas Bakshian

U.S. plans to withdraw 30,000 troops from Germany are a sign of changing international conditions, according to a German government spokesman, and he says the move comes as no great surprise. But, regional leaders say their economies will be hurt by the withdrawals¹. The German government says the move is understandable, given American security concerns. Karsten Voigt, Berlin's coordinator² for German-American relations, says that despite the changes, Germany will still remain a strategic location for American troops.

"We like the American troops staying in Germany, but on the other side we understand that the American government is restructuring its forces," he said. "And as part of the restructuring it is also reducing the number of American troops staying in Germany. And we are happy that in the future Germany will still be the largest deployment³ place in Europe."

President Bush announced plans Monday to bring home as many as 70,000 troops from Europe and Asia within 10 years. U.S. defense⁴ officials say about 30,000 troops in Germany will be withdrawn⁵.

For more than a half a century U.S. troops have been stationed in Germany. Mr. Voigt says their presence was a real success story for German-American relations.

"The relationship between the local communities and the American troops were very close and we always thought that, not only did the American troops feel comfortable while they were staying in Germany," he said. "But also that they were good ambassadors for a new and modern and democratic Germany when they returned to the U.S."

Mayors, community leaders, and business groups across southern Germany, where most American troops are stationed, say their economies will be hurt by the loss of local employment and because large numbers of family members will be leaving with the soldiers. Bavarian Premier⁶ Edmund Stoiber, whose region will be seriously affected⁷, has asked for federal assistance.

The Pentagon had advised German officials earlier this year that it was considering removing Army units from Germany and replacing them with smaller and more mobile forces. Douglas Bakshian for VOA news, Luxembourg.

注释：
withdraw 撤离
understandable 可理解的
coordinator 协调者
restructure 调整
deployment 军队部署
ambassador 大使

1 withdrawals   

n.收回，取回，撤回( withdrawal的名词复数 )；撤退，撤走；收回[取回，撤回，撤退，撤走]的实例；推出（组织），提走（存款），戒除毒瘾，对说过的话收回，孤僻

参考例句：

• He has made several withdrawals from his bank account. 他从银行账户上提了几次款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is not the bank's policy to deduct interest on withdrawals. 提款需扣除利息这并非是本银行的政策。 来自辞典例句

2 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

3 deployment   

n. 部署,展开

参考例句：

• He has inquired out the deployment of the enemy troops. 他已查出敌军的兵力部署情况。
• Quality function deployment (QFD) is a widely used customer-driven quality, design and manufacturing management tool. 质量功能展开(quality function deployment,QFD)是一个广泛应用的顾客需求驱动的设计、制造和质量管理工具。

4 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。

5 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

6 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

7 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。