VOA标准英语2009年-Afghan Officials Join US Review of War Strategy

Afghan President Hamid Karzai says his government will participate in President Barack Obama's strategic review of the war in Afghanistan. Mr. Karzai announced the agreement after meeting with U.S. envoy¹ Richard Holbrooke.
　
U.S. Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke, left, listens as Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks during a press event in Kabul, 15 Feb. 2009

Karzai described talks with ambassador Holbrooke as frank, detailed² and fruitful and said he looks forward to working with President Obama on reviewing U.S. strategy in the region.

"I am very thankful President Obama has accepted my proposal for Afghanistan joining the strategic review of the war against terrorism in the United States and accordingly the Afghan delegation³ headed by the minister of foreign affairs Dr. Spanta will visit the United States," Mr. Karzai said.

Richard Holbrooke has been meeting with an array of lawmakers, officials and analysts⁴ in Pakistan and Afghanistan on what U.S. officials have described as a fact-finding trip. During his visit to Pakistan last week, officials there announced that they too would participate in the U.S. strategic review.

Holbrooke's trip is expected to help shape recommendations for changing U.S. policies in Afghanistan and Pakistan that have failed to counter the Taliban or shore-up the two countries' U.S.-allied governments.

Holbrooke's visit to Kabul also follows months of criticism that Afghanistan's problems are partly due to President Karzai's failure to stem government corruption⁵ and strengthen state institutions.

The rampant⁶ government corruption has become a prominent issue as Afghanistan prepares for presidential elections.

The polls had been expected to be held this spring, but last month election officials said they needed more time for preparation and scheduled the vote for late August. The announcement angered Mr. Karzai's political opponents who had lobbied for an earlier date.

Under Afghanistan's constitution, Mr. Karzai's presidential term ends May 21st and his opponents say Mr. Karzai should step down as president after that date.

Ambassador Holbrooke endorsed⁷ the August election timetable without commenting on the controversy⁸ over Mr. Karzai's presidential term.

"We stated our strong belief that the electoral commission's decision to have the election on August 20 was appropriate in the context of the conditions in Afghanistan today," Holbrooke said.

During Sunday's appearance before reporters in Kabul, Mr. Karzai also praised a recent agreement between Afghanistan and the U.S. military that aims to increase the role of Afghan forces in conducting raids and house searches. The agreement is aimed at reducing civilian⁹ casualties, which have become a source of contention¹⁰ between Mr. Karzai and foreign troops.

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

3 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 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。

6 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

7 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

9 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

10 contention   

n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张

参考例句：

• The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
• The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。