VOA常速英语2007年-NATO Reps Meet in Scotland to Discuss Afghanist

By Tom Rivers
London
14 December 2007

NATO defense¹ ministers and diplomats² have met in Edinburgh, Scotland to discuss the future of the alliance's mission in Afghanistan. Hosted by Britain, the now familiar call for greater participation³ from some European states was one of the main themes. For VOA, Tom Rivers reports from London.

The Edinburgh meeting allowed the participants to take stock of the still tough and what will likely be a lengthy⁴ stay in Afghanistan.

On hand for the discussions were the defense and foreign ministers from countries with deployments in the troubled southern part of Afghanistan.

Hosting the conference was British Defense Minister Des Browne who once again said greater burden sharing would certainly be welcomed.

"Could other countries do more? Could we do with more? Yes, of course we could but the other side of the coin, of course, is that I am a politician and I am a realist and I understand you, known, the dynamics⁵ of alliances that are made up of countries of different political make-ups and governments of different types," he said.  "I mean some of the governments are not there because of minority governments. They have a political will, but they do not have political process to deliver."

Britain is the largest contributor of after the United States with 7,800 troops deployed⁶.

Among those attending the Scottish meeting, was U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates who believes that some in Europe have lost sight of why allied⁷ troops are there.

He wants NATO to adopt and publish a short statement spelling out clearly why forces are still there six years after the Taliban was ousted⁸ from power.

A NATO heads of government meeting will take place in April and leaders there are expected to firm up the alliance's strategy for Afghanistan.

Gates warns that gains made over the years can be lost unless a comprehensive military, economic and diplomatic package is set in motion.

Specifically, he says 3,500 trainers are needed for the Afghan police and the army needs 16 helicopters.

Over the past 18 months, Taliban insurgents⁹ have increased their attacks in the south, employing a variety of tactics including roadside and suicide bombings and kidnappings.

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 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

4 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

5 dynamics   

n.力学，动力学，动力，原动力；动态

参考例句：

• In order to succeed,you must master complicated knowledge of dynamics.要取得胜利，你必须掌握很复杂的动力学知识。
• Dynamics is a discipline that cannot be mastered without extensive practice.动力学是一门不做大量习题就不能掌握的学科。

6 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

7 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

8 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。

9 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