2006年VOA标准英语-US Army Special Forces Help Train Northern

By Chris Simkins
Washington, D.C.
29 March 2006
 
watch Training report

The U.S. Defense¹ Department continues an ambitious military counter-terrorism program in nine nations across poor and largely Muslim areas of northern Africa. The program is designed to train African soldiers to fight terrorists who might set up training camps in their countries. VOA's Chris Simkins reports on some of the programs that are helping² train armies in Algeria and Niger.

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Paratropers with the Niger Army prepare to board a U.S. plane to practice their jumping skills  
  

On the streets of Maradi, people are selling carrots, and that's a good sign. Last year's devastating³ famine is over. This land-locked desert nation is short of resources but full of spirit, an example of which can be seen in the country's army paratroopers.

Ibrahim Sanifu Issa is one of them. "The country can be poor. Yes, I agree that is true,” he says.  “But our Army is a lot better than the ones I've seen around Africa."

These soldiers do not get a chance to wear flight helmets often. Niger's third-largest city has an airport -- but no airplanes. So most of these men have not parachuted for four years. But on this day, U.S. Special Forces are giving them a chance to jump.

A team of 12 U.S. Army Special Forces, some of America's best-trained and equipped soldiers, have spent a couple of months here, part of a U.S. Defense Department program to train North African armies to combat terrorism.

The U.S. team leader, identified only as William, says the military from one of the poorest countryies in the world is pretty good. "Honestly, they have got a superb military once you think though they do not have the resources they have professionalism, they have 'esprit de corps,' the discipline."

As the paratroopers get ready, the crowds to watch them grow and grow. Some 70 Niger soldiers flew with the Special Forces. 

 
The troops begin their practice assault over part of the Sahara Desert in Niger 
  
From the air, you can see why for an army in the Sahara, parachuting is more than a joy ride. Their commanders say, if they had to fight terrorists in the desert at a moment’s notice, it would be difficult to get soldiers by land to a potential combat zone, so parachuting in is the way to go.

U.S. Special Forces are not just in Niger, but throughout the Sahara Desert in nine countries, helping train soldiers to fight terrorists. Here America's elite⁴ Special Forces train alongside Algerian commandos, teaching them how to improve their shooting techniques.

A U.S. Special Forces commander says armies in Niger, Algeria and other northern African nations have to be ready. "I don't think there is necessarily an evident threat every day.  However the potential threat here is what is important, " said an unnamed major.

The U.S. Defense Department plans to spend $500 million over the next five years dispatching Special Forces units throughout the Sahara, training North African armies to fight against terrorists.

1 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。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

4 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。