VOA标准英语 Australia Boosts Military Presence in Afghanistan

Australia will send an extra 450 troops to Afghanistan to address what the government in Canberra describes as a worsening security situation in the troubled country.
　
Australian soldiers of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) keep guard on top of armored vehicles, in Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province (File)

Australia has responded to diplomatic pressure from U.S. President Obama for America's allies to increase their military contribution to the war in Afghanistan.

The additional Australian forces will help train the Afghan army and provide security for a presidential election in August.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says it is clear that security in Afghanistan is deteriorating¹.

Australia's involvement in the campaign against Taliban insurgents² is proving to be increasingly unpopular with voters following a string of combat deaths. Mr. Rudd, however, said Wednesday that winning the war is his country's best interests.
　
Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, 30 Mar³ 2009

"We cannot ignore this cold, hard strategic fact - less security in Afghanistan means less security for Australians. Handing Afghanistan back to terrorist control will increase the threat to all Australians. This commitment that we have announced today is not a blank check but it focused on training the Afghans to manage their own security," he said.

Ten Australian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, four of them since last November.

Australia is the biggest contributor to the U.S.-led coalition⁴ outside of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Prime Minister Rudd has been calling for other NATO countries to do more to help defeat the Taliban. He noted⁵ Wednesday that Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain had all agreed to send more troops since President Obama ordered a troop surge earlier this year.

Australia's extra forces will boost its current contingent⁶ of about 1,100 Australian troops in Afghanistan.

1 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

2 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

3 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

4 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。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 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。