Britain to Pull Some Troops From Afghanistan

 　　British newspapers say Prime Minister David Cameron this week will announce the withdrawal¹ of at least 500 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012.

　　The move, expected to be announced Wednesday, follows last month's announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama that 10,000 American troops will be withdrawn² this year as part of a process of handing security over to Afghan forces.

　　Further withdrawals³ planned for 2012 are to reduce U.S. troop numbers in Afghanistan to about 68,000.

　　Prominent U.S. Senator John McCain on Sunday criticized Mr. Obama's drawdown plan as an "unnecessary risk"  that was not supported by U.S. military commanders.

　　McCain, the Republican Party's presidential candidate in 2008, made his comments to CNN from Kabul.

　　Britain has the second-biggest foreign contingent⁴ in Afghanistan -- some 9,500 troops -- with the majority in southern Helmand province, one of the most violent areas.

　　Also Sunday, the chief of staff of Germany's armed forces said Germany would reduce its troop levels in Afghanistan by about 500 at the end of the year.

　　Germany has about 5,000 troops in northern Afghanistan.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 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。

2 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

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 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。