VOA常速英语2008年-NATO Says Taliban Not Surging, But More Foreign

By Al Pessin
Washington
06 February 2008

The top NATO commander in Afghanistan is disputing claims that the Taliban is experiencing a resurgence¹ and that the recent increase in violence proves it.  The commander also says the number of foreign forces he has is too small, and is likely to remain that way.  General Dan McNeill spoke² to reporters at the Pentagon and VOA's Al Pessin reports.

General McNeill says the increased violence is related to the more offensive posture³ his NATO troops have taken, spending more time outside their bases and going into areas where they have not patrolled in the past.

"Those who use the increased levels of violence to try to make a case or an argument are generally going to get it wrong, unless they understand what is causing those increased levels of violence," McNeill said.

General McNeill says many experienced Taliban leaders were killed during last year's fighting season, and that while the group is trying to recruit new members the leadership will be difficult to replace.  He says the major offensive last spring and summer was by NATO and U.S. forces, and he says that will be true again this year.

The American general also disputed a statement by the top U.S. military officer,  Admiral Mike Mullen, who has said there is a "classic, growing insurgency⁴" in Afghanistan.  In addition, two independent reports published in Washington last week say the international effort in Afghanistan has stalled.

General McNeill disagrees, but he also acknowledges that the Afghanistan effort is what the military calls an "economy of force" operation.

"The members of the alliance are going to produce only so much," he said.  "I accept that.  The trick then is to manage the risk that is inherent in having an under-resourced international force and reaching the level of capacity at which the Afghan national security forces ought to be."

General McNeill says the Afghan army is developing well, but the police are about 18 months behind, and he says that is the most important force in fighting an insurgency.  He says he needs more NATO troops and more trainers for the Afghan police, and he expects to get some, although likely not as many as he needs, when NATO defense⁶ ministers meet Thursday and Friday in Lithuania.

"I think there will be some announcements from various ministers at Vilnius, that they are going to increase," McNeill said.  "Will it be by the huge numbers that probably would be fitting the correct application of doctrine⁷ for counterinsurgency?  Not likely that much.  But will it be helpful?  It will be most helpful."

The United States has announced it will send 2,200 Marines to Afghanistan in April to help fight the Taliban in the south, and another thousand to help train the Afghan forces.  U.S. officials are calling for NATO allies to also send more troops, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he will "nag⁵" the allies again during this week's meetings. 

1 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

4 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

5 nag   

v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人

参考例句：

• Nobody likes to work with a nag.谁也不愿与好唠叨的人一起共事。
• Don't nag me like an old woman.别像个老太婆似的唠唠叨叨烦我。

6 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。

7 doctrine   

n.教义；主义；学说

参考例句：

• He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
• The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。