fighting in Afghanistan could intensify

WASHINGTON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. President Barack Obama's pick as the new commander(司令官) in Afghanistan, said on Tuesday that fighting in the country could intensify¹（加强） in coming months and he supports the timetable of starting withdrawals³ in July 2011.
Petraeus appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee, testifying at a hearing on his confirmation(确认) as the new commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
There were signs of progress in terms of U.S.-led counterinsurgency effort in Afghanistan and fighting in the country could intensify in coming months, said the general, who was tapped by Obama last week to succeed the loose-lip Gen. Stanley McChrystal.
"My sense is that the tough fighting will continue; indeed, it may get more intense in the next few months," he said. "As we take away the enemy's safe havens⁴ and reduce the enemy's freedom of action, the insurgents⁵ will fight back." Petraeus also restated his support for starting withdrawal² of U.S. troops in Afghanistan in July 2011, a major part of Obama's new Afghan strategy outlined in December, while emphasized that it would be based on security conditions on the ground.
The general promised to forge "unity⁶ of effort" with his civilian⁷ counterparts, saying that he will "seek to contribute to such teamwork and to unity of effort among all participants."His predecessor⁸, McChrystal, failed to get on well with U.S. diplomatic team in Afghanistan and was ousted⁹ after making contemptuous remarks of senior administration officials.
Petraeus is expected to be heavily questioned by lawmakers on whether he would pursue the same doctrine¹⁰ as his predecessor to put strict limits on firepower to protect the lives of civilians¹¹, which critics say put U.S. troops at unnecessary risk.
"I am keenly aware of concerns by some of our troopers on the ground about the application of our rules of engagement（诺言） and the tactical directive. They should know that I will look very hard at this issue," Petraeus said in his testimony¹².(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)
 

1 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

2 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

3 withdrawals   

n.收回，取回，撤回( withdrawal的名词复数 )；撤退，撤走；收回[取回，撤回，撤退，撤走]的实例；推出（组织），提走（存款），戒除毒瘾，对说过的话收回，孤僻

参考例句：

• He has made several withdrawals from his bank account. 他从银行账户上提了几次款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is not the bank's policy to deduct interest on withdrawals. 提款需扣除利息这并非是本银行的政策。 来自辞典例句

4 havens   

n.港口，安全地方( haven的名词复数 )v.港口，安全地方( haven的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Your twenty havens would back out at the last minute anyhow. 你那二十个避难所到了最后一分钟也要不认帐。 来自辞典例句
• Using offshore havens to avoid taxes and investor protections. 使用海面的港口避免税和投资者保护。 来自互联网

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 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

7 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。

8 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

9 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

10 doctrine   

n.教义；主义；学说

参考例句：

• He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
• The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

11 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。

12 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。