VOA常速英语2007年-US Defense Chief Calls for More International A

By Alex Villarreal
Washington
04 December 2007

U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Robert Gates is calling on the international community to do more for Afghanistan in its fight against extremists. Gates has been visiting the country, which is experiencing an upsurge in insurgent² attacks. VOA's Alex Villarreal reports on the visit from Washington.

During a joint³ news conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Secretary Gates said he continues to press U.S. allies in Europe and elsewhere to fulfill⁴ their commitments in Afghanistan.

"There are, I think, some 70 nations and organizations involved in trying to assist this young democracy, and I think it is incumbent⁵ upon all of them to provide the assistance that is required," he said.

Both President Karzai and his army chief, Bismullah Khan, told the visiting U.S. defense secretary that Afghanistan needs more military aid.

Secretary Gates said Washington is doing all it can to help, including trying to expedite delivery of more weapons.

But he added that other NATO members must meet their commitment to provide more help for Afghanistan, including more trainers for the new Afghan security forces, which General Khan indicated is an urgent need.

Mr. Gates expressed concern over increasing levels of violence in Afghanistan, calling progress toward establishing security "uneven⁶." But he said that does not mean efforts by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, are failing.

"The consistent message that I heard today from both American and Afghan military leaders as well as other military leaders and ISAF was that an important reason for the increased violence is because there is a much more aggressive effort on the part of ISAF to go after the Taliban and to go into areas where they have not been active before," he said.

In the past, Secretary Gates has criticized some NATO allies for their restrictions⁷ on where in Afghanistan their troops can fight.

Violence in Afghanistan has killed some 6,000 people this year, the highest reported death toll⁸ since U.S.-led forces invaded Afghanistan in 2001.

Suicide attacks in particular are on the rise, the latest during Gates' visit when a suicide car bomb struck a NATO convoy⁹ Tuesday near the capital's heavily-guarded airport.

NATO officials reported no deaths in the attack, but say 22 civilians¹⁰ were injured.

This is Gates' third trip to Afghanistan since he took over the Pentagon last year.

1 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。

2 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

5 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

6 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

7 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

8 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。

9 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

10 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。