2006年VOA标准英语-Commander Says NATO Passing Test in Afghanistan

By Al Pessin
Washington
17 August 2006 

Supreme1 Allied2 Commander, Europe and Commander, U.S. European Command, briefs members of the press, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006" src="/upimg/allimg/070416/1510270.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> Gen. James L. Jones, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander, U.S. European Command, briefs members of the press, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006

The commander of NATO forces worldwide says he is not surprised by the level of violence in southern Afghanistan, where his troops have been fighting insurgents³ for months and took responsibility for security at the end of July. During a news conference at the Pentagon, U.S. Marine⁴ General James Jones predicted a gradual improvement in the security situation in the region in the coming months. 

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General Jones says Taleban insurgents, drug-traffickers and criminal gangs are testing NATO, as he expected they would.

"This is a strategic moment in the southern part of Afghanistan. It's a test of wills. Certainly the opposition⁵ is testing NATO to see if we in fact do have the will and the capability⁶ to stand and fight. And I think the evidence is so far that the answer is overwhelmingly yes," he said.

General Jones said in March that he did not believe insurgents in Afghanistan had the ability to "re-start an insurgency⁷ of any size and major scope." Since then, as warm weather returned to Afghanistan, there has been a significant increase in attacks by insurgents and criminals. In addition, NATO troops have tried to take the fight to the insurgents, challenging them in their strongholds.

But General Jones says he did expect some increase in violence, and he predicts that the situation will improve in the coming months.

"I believe that with the forces that we now have currently based in that particular section of Afghanistan that we will soon see an area that is going to gradually, over the next several months, become a little bit more stable," he added.

And the general says he does not believe NATO will have to send any more troops to Afghanistan to get the situation under control.

"We believe that the totals that we currently have planned are adequate and should be sufficient," said General James. "I don't see the need of asking nations for more contributions at this time."

General Jones says NATO has a reserve force ready to go to Afghanistan in case more troops are needed.

The NATO commander also said the international community and the Afghan government need to do a better job of fighting corruption⁸ and delivering services to the Afghan people. Without that, he says, military victories will not by themselves bring stability to the country.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

3 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

4 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

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 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。