VOA常速英语2007年-Australia Warns of NATO Failure in Afghanistan

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
17 December 2007

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has warned that NATO's anti-Taliban tactics in Afghanistan are not working. The newly elected leader said it is "critical" that security in the troubled country be stabilized¹. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

Prime Minister Rudd issued his blunt warning to the NATO governments after a cabinet meeting in the capital, Canberra, on Monday.

The prime minister's message was similar to that made Sunday by his defense² minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, who just returned to Australia from a meeting in Scotland with NATO defense ministers.

Fitzgibbon told an Australian newspaper that many NATO countries are not making a contribution in Afghanistan. He said the military effort in the country against the insurgent³ Taliban is winning battles, but not the support of the public.

NATO has about 33,000 troops in Afghanistan. Australia has about 1,000 there, making it one of the largest non-NATO contributor to anti-terrorism efforts in the country. Mr. Rudd says his government is committed to the campaign in Afghanistan, but a better approach is needed.

"We're there for the long haul and we made that very plain to our American ally and to our NATO partners, and the defense minister is also underlining a point which is necessary to make publicly, and that's we would encourage our NATO partners to do more when it comes to Afghanistan," he said.

Mr. Rudd made a special point about the dangers of increased opium⁴ production in Afghanistan, which now supplies about 90 percent of the world's heroin⁵. He said the "narco-finance" from the heroin trade is spilling out to other countries.

Mr. Rudd announced his intention on being elected last month to withdraw Australia's 550 combat troops from Iraq by the middle of next year. He is also at odds⁶ with U.S. President George Bush over the question of climate change, feeling that more-urgent action is needed if global warming is to be halted.

Nevertheless, Mr. Rudd says he is committed to retaining Australia's traditionally strong alliance with the United States.

He has said he might increase the Australian contingent⁷ in Afghanistan once the withdrawal⁸ from Iraq has taken place, but only if the NATO countries increase their effort as well.

1 stabilized   

v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The patient's condition stabilized. 患者的病情稳定下来。
• His blood pressure has stabilized. 他的血压已经稳定下来了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 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。

3 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

4 opium   

n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的

参考例句：

• That man gave her a dose of opium.那男人给了她一剂鸦片。
• Opium is classed under the head of narcotic.鸦片是归入麻醉剂一类的东西。

5 heroin   

n.海洛因

参考例句：

• Customs have made their biggest ever seizure of heroin.海关查获了有史以来最大的一批海洛因。
• Heroin has been smuggled out by sea.海洛因已从海上偷运出境。

6 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

7 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

8 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。