VOA标准英语2010年-New US Commander for Afghanistan No St

President Barack Obama has named General David Petraeus, the head of the U.S. Central Command, to replace his top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, following a magazine interview in which McChrystal and his aides were dismissive of the U.S. administration. 

A Senate panel is moving quickly to hold a confirmation¹ hearing for General David Petraeus as the new commander for the war in Afghanistan.  The Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing for the Army general next Tuesday.

Both Republicans and Democrats² have said they back Petraeus for the job and Mr. Obama expressed his trust. "He has my full confidence," Mr. Obama said.

Some experts credit General Petraeus with a successful counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq, where he led U.S. forces until being named chief of the U.S. Central Command in October 2008.   He had been McCrystal's boss until the Afghanistan commander resigned this week.

Speaking last month about the situation in Afghanistan, Petraeus said he was well aware of the task ahead. "As was the case in Iraq, the reality is that everything in Afghanistan is hard.  It is hard all the time, and it typically gets harder before it gets easier," he said.

Colleagues say Petraeus has a hands-on style, taking risks to walk among the people in conflict areas.  He has said it is also important for a commander to be, in his terms "brutally³ honest" about how the war effort is going. 

Some analysts⁵ predict the command change will stall advances in Afghanistan until Petraeus takes over.  But President Obama says the policy in Afghanistan will not change. "General Petraeus understands that strategy because he helped shape it.  My expectation is that he will be outstanding in implementing⁶ it," Mr. Obama said.

"No one, be they adversaries⁷ or friends or especially our troops should misinterpret these personnel changes as a slackening of this government's commitment in Afghanistan," said Secretary of Defense⁸ Robert Gates.

Petraeus' counterinsurgency task involves military action, but also relies on civilian⁹ relationships to succeed.  Experts say it is crucial for the military and the U.S. ambassador to speak with one voice.

Johns Hopkins Professor Tom Keaney served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force and says McChrystal never developed a bond with U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry.   But Keaney says Petraeus cultivated a rapport¹⁰ with Iraqi officials, which benefitted the cause. "His relationship with the political entities¹¹ was not just cordial, but he pushed them constantly to make modifications¹², to make changes.  So a good relationship is important, but having influence over what that leader is going to do is also important," Keaney said.

Some people say Petraeus will develop the credentials¹³ of a future presidential candidate and have created a website called "Petraeus 2012."  But the general denies any political ambitions. 

Brookings Institution analyst⁴ Michael O'Hanlon says popular U.S. generals in the past have turned to politics. "Eisenhower, obviously Ulysses Grant, there is a time-honored tradition as seeing generals as a powerful leaders that the nation rallies around," he said.

For Petraeus, to date, he was known for his success in Iraq, but now faces one he admits will not be easy.
 

1 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

2 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 brutally   

adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地

参考例句：

• The uprising was brutally put down.起义被残酷地镇压下去了。
• A pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed.一场争取民主的起义被残酷镇压了。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

5 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。

6 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

7 adversaries   

n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
• Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句

8 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。

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 rapport   

n.和睦，意见一致

参考例句：

• She has an excellent rapport with her staff.她跟她职员的关系非常融洽。
• We developed a high degree of trust and a considerable personal rapport.我们发展了高度的互相信任和不错的私人融洽关系。

11 entities   

实体对像； 实体，独立存在体，实际存在物( entity的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our newspaper and our printing business form separate corporate entities. 我们的报纸和印刷业形成相对独立的企业实体。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities. 北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

12 modifications   

n.缓和( modification的名词复数 )；限制；更改；改变

参考例句：

• The engine was pulled apart for modifications and then reassembled. 发动机被拆开改型，然后再组装起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The original plan had undergone fairly extensive modifications. 原计划已经作了相当大的修改。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。