VOA常速英语2007年-US General says Afghanistan Progressing Despite

By Daniel Schearf
Islamabad
17 December 2007

A top American general has said Afghanistan's security is improving, despite a resurgent Taliban and increased violence in the country. The general also cited a drop in cross-border attacks and the capture of more than 50 insurgent¹ leaders as proof of progress. Daniel Schearf reports from Islamabad.

Brigadier General Joseph Votel told journalists late Sunday Afghanistan is heading in the right direction with improvements in security, governance, and development.

Votel, the deputy commanding general for American soldiers in Afghanistan, said he disagreed with those who say resurgent Taliban were increasing instability in the country.

He said security forces this year captured or killed more than 50 insurgent leaders. He cited improved cooperation and communication with Pakistan, and better troop placement, for reducing cross-border attacks by 43 percent this year compared to 2006.

"We are in a much better position right now than we were a year ago at this time," he said.

Pakistan's bordering tribal² areas are believed by U.S. and Afghan officials to be a safe-haven for militants³ seeking to destabilize Afghanistan.

Votel said Afghan national security forces have increased their capabilities⁴ and are better able to handle security in the country.

In one of the biggest operations this year, thousands of Afghan and NATO troops last week re-took the southern town of Musa Qala from Taliban forces that had occupied it for months.

Afghanistan's Defense⁵ Ministry⁶ said hundreds of Taliban fighters were killed, wounded, and detained during the days-long battle, including several commanders.

Despite the progress, Votel acknowledged that violence in Afghanistan was increasing along with support for the Taliban. He said insurgents⁷ were improving their capabilities as well and becoming more sophisticated with their attacks.

"They cannot necessarily compete with us militarily, so in some cases and in some areas we have seen increase in the use of IEDs or rocket attacks against our bases or against our operations," he said. "So, we have had to adjust our approach to take that into consideration."

Afghanistan in the past two years has seen increasing attacks on Afghan and U.S.-led coalition⁸ soldiers and government targets.

An estimated 6,000 people have died in the past year alone, the bloodiest⁹ since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban from power.

On Sunday, a roadside bomb killed a family of five as they were traveling in south central Uruzgan province.

Also Sunday, Afghan and NATO-led forces killed 20 Taliban fighters in the southern city of Kandahar.

The United States has ordered a review of coalition strategy in Afghanistan to prevent violence from impeding¹⁰ the country's progress.

1 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。

2 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

3 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

4 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

5 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。

6 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

7 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

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

9 bloodiest   

adj.血污的( bloody的最高级 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的

参考例句：

• The Russians were going to suffer their bloodiest defeat of all before Berlin. 俄国人在柏林城下要遭到他们的最惨重的失败。 来自辞典例句
• It was perhaps the bloodiest hour in the history of warfare. 这也许是战争史上血腥味最浓的1个小时。 来自互联网

10 impeding   

a.(尤指坏事)即将发生的，临近的

参考例句：

• Fallen rock is impeding the progress of rescue workers. 坠落的石头阻滞了救援人员的救援进程。
• Is there sufficient room for the kiosk and kiosk traffic without impeding other user traffic? 该环境下是否有足够的空间来摆放信息亭？信息亭是否会妨碍交通或者行走？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓