2006年VOA标准英语-General Says Afghan Development Must Come This

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
17 October 2006

The British general who commands NATO forces in Afghanistan says he launched the country's first nationwide security plan on Tuesday, and that the international community must take advantage of gains made in fighting the Taliban during the summer and begin to deliver a better life to the Afghan people within the next six months.

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Gen. David Richards
  
Speaking from Kabul, General David Richards says he met with senior Afghan military officials Tuesday to give final orders for the security plan.

"Today I spent a morning with the chief of the Afghan Army and the chief of the Afghan Police being briefed and then giving final direction on the first Pan-Afghanistan security operation, in which the whole country will feel the effect of properly coordinated¹ security operations," he said.

General Richards did not provide many details of the plan, but he said it will include an effort to improve security on major roads.

"It will include, for example, ensuring greater security on the highways, particularly the ring road that leads from Kabul down through the east, along the south and up to Herat, because the people need to feel that that is under the control of the government," he added.
 
 
U.S. soldiers and Afghan police officers at the site of a bomb blast in Laghman province, eastern Afghanistan, Oct. 14, 2006
  
The security plan is part of General Richards' effort to capitalize on victories over Taliban insurgents² in recent months.  He says NATO, the Afghan government and private aid organizations must now demonstrate to the people that they can deliver reconstruction³ and development.

"What we need to do is not deliver, or attempt to say we'll deliver, all these reconstruction and development projects overnight, because they know that's not possible," he explained.  "What we need to show is demonstrable improvement.  What we need to do is to persuade that it's all worth it by letting them see this upward trajectory⁴ of continuing improvement."

General Richards says if the Afghan government and the international community fail to deliver development projects during the next six months, they will face a much more difficult situation next spring, with more ordinary Afghans frustrated⁵ and ready to support the insurgents.  He says if that happens, he will have some very pointed⁶ questions to ask the officials who are responsible for the reconstruction effort.

"To be frank, if we can't this winter, then I'm going to be saying to all the other people involved in this, 'what more can we do for you?  You know, we're giving you these opportunities," he said.  "There are still risks.  But start, please, delivering' because at some point the military can do no more."

General Richards says in past years, the international community did not work hard enough to deliver development projects, believing that military victories were enough.  But he says that is never enough when fighting an insurgency⁷, and that NATO and the Afghan government can not afford to squander⁸ what he calls the 'psychological ascendancy⁹' that the recent victories over Taliban forces provide.

The general also says cooperation from Pakistan is crucial for establishing long-term security in Afghanistan.  But he says he was satisfied with the results of recent meetings he had in Islamabad, and he believes the Pakistani army will do all it can to control Taliban and other terrorist elements operating in the border area.

1 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

2 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

3 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

4 trajectory   

n.弹道，轨道

参考例句：

• It is not difficult to sketch the subsequent trajectory.很容易描绘出它们最终的轨迹。
• The path followed by a projectile is called its trajectory.抛物体所循的路径称为它的轨道。

5 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。

7 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

8 squander   

v.浪费，挥霍

参考例句：

• Don't squander your time in reading those dime novels.不要把你的时间浪费在读那些胡编乱造的廉价小说上。
• Every chance is precious，so don't squander any chance away!每次机会都很宝贵，所以不要将任何一个白白放走。

9 ascendancy   

n.统治权，支配力量

参考例句：

• We have had ascendancy over the enemy in the battle.在战斗中我们已占有优势。
• The extremists are gaining ascendancy.极端分子正逐渐占据上风。