VOA标准英语2008年-US, Afghan Presidents Discuss Reconstruction Ef

U.S. President George Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai met at the White House to talk about improving security in Afghanistan and expanding the Afghan army. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.
　
President Bush and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, 26 Sep 2008

At what is likely to be their last White House meeting, President Bush praised President Karzai's service to his country, saying he admires the Afghan leader's determination to succeed.

"I want to let you know that the United States is committed to the people of Afghanistan. We will stand by your side and do the hard work necessary to achieve our objective. And our objective is for you to become a thriving democracy and to deny al-Qaida and other extremists a safe haven¹ or a base from which to launch their murderous attacks," he said.

Al-Qaida terrorists responsible for the September 2001 attacks in New York and Washington were backed by what was then the Taleban-led government in Afghanistan. U.S. forces toppled that government in 2002.

U.S. troops make up the bulk of the NATO mission in Afghanistan fighting Taleban militia², some of whom U.S. military officials say are based across the border in Pakistan.

Earlier this month, Mr. Bush announced that a Marine³ battalion⁴ scheduled to go to Iraq in November will instead be sent to Afghanistan. That battalion will be followed in January by an Army combat brigade.

Before their Oval Office talks, President Bush and President Karzai had a video conference with Afghan governors and members of U.S. provincial⁵ reconstruction⁶ teams in Afghanistan. Mr. Bush said those teams are a central part of a counter-insurgency strategy that combines economic development, education, and security to help President Karzai's young democracy thrive.

"No question it's difficult. But if you listen to the people who are actually on the ground working with the citizens of Afghanistan on matters such as agriculture or education or infrastructure⁷, you will understand why I said that there is progress and promise and hope," said Mr. Bush.

There have been difficulties between the Bush administration and the Karzai government, chiefly resulting from public anger over the deaths of Afghan civilians⁸ killed by U.S. troops targeting terrorists.

President Karzai thanked President Bush for his friendship, his support, and his patience.

"I have yelled at times. I have been angry at times. But you have always been smiling and generous. And that is so nice of you," he said.

President Karzai says Afghanistan has made more progress in the last six years that it would have made in 50 or 60 years under the Taleban. He says infant mortality is down and national reserves of $180 million in 2002 now total more than $3 billion.

 

1 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

2 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

3 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。

4 battalion   

n.营；部队；大队(的人)

参考例句：

• The town was garrisoned by a battalion.该镇由一营士兵驻守。
• At the end of the drill parade,the battalion fell out.操练之后，队伍解散了。

5 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

6 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。