VOA标准英语2014--国际部队逐渐撤离,在阿富汗的战斗仍在继续

 

As International Troops Dwindle¹, Fight in Afghanistan Continues 国际部队逐渐撤离,在阿富汗的战斗仍在继续

“Transition" is the key word for NATO-led international forces in Afghanistan as the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, continues to draw down troops on the ground. With the number of international troops dwindling², the top commander of these forces in Afghanistan said the fight is still a difficult one.

ISAF Commander General John Campbell said the toll³ of Afghan forces killed and wounded this year is between 7,000 and 9,000, slightly higher than last year.

Speaking to reporters via satellite, he said recent fighting in Helmand province has contributed to the rise.

“The last couple of weeks, there’s been an uptick with the Taliban trying to make a statement as they close out the fighting season,” said Campbell.

As Afghan forces shoulder more fighting responsibilities, ISAF troops will draw down from about 40,000 to less than 13,000 in Afghanistan at the end of December.

Analyst⁴ Andrew Wilder said that means a new role for international forces.

“It is important to emphasize that the main mission is not a combat mission - it is a training, advising and assisting mission,” said Wilder.

But Campbell warned international forces still have a difficult road ahead.

“We lost a soldier the other night. We lost three about five days ago, so this continues to be a very tough environment for our soldiers, for all of NATO,” said Campbell.

Campbell told VOA that while international forces are no longer on patrol with Afghan brigades, they are still battling to rid the country of al-Qaida insurgents⁵ through counterterrorism, or CT, operations.

Even as more troops leave, General Campbell said he is comfortable that international forces are on the right path to helping⁶ build a more stable Afghanistan. 

1 dwindle   

v.逐渐变小（或减少）

参考例句：

• The factory's workforce has dwindled from over 4,000 to a few hundred.工厂雇员总数已经从4,000多人减少到几百人。
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority.他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。

2 dwindling   

adj.逐渐减少的v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The number of wild animals on the earth is dwindling. 地球上野生动物的数量正日渐减少。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He is struggling to come to terms with his dwindling authority. 他正努力适应自己权力被削弱这一局面。 来自辞典例句

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

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 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

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。