2007年VOA标准英语-US, African Militaries Meet to Discuss Cooperat

By Jordan Davis
Dakar
07 February 2007

Defense¹ chiefs of the United States and nine African countries are wrapping up a two-day meeting in Dakar, Senegal on increasing military cooperation around the Sahara.  As the conference was taking place in Senegal, news came from Washington of the creation of a new Africa Command by the U.S. Defense Department. For VOA, Jordan Davis reports from Dakar.

 
A Kenyan contingent² prepares for a simulated joint³ military exercise with US forces (18 August 2006)
Officials say the goal of the annual meeting of the Trans-Saharan partnership⁴ was to build the capacity of local militaries to address the threat of terrorist groups in the remote Sahara region.

The partnership is currently run by the European Command of the U.S. military, but is likely to change hands as the U.S. military restructures to create a new unit consolidating⁵ its African operations.

U.S. General William Ward⁶ of the European Command says over eighty million dollars have been allocated⁷ to the partnership in President Bush's budget proposal for next year.

The general says the partnership's work will continue regardless of which command is in charge.

 
US General William Ward 
"Over the coming months as the U.S. is hoping to look at roles and responsibilities we will ensure that whatever is done with the creation of the Africa Command brings 'value added' to the good work that's being done by the U.S. European command in Africa," he said.

Nine countries from north and west Africa train regularly with U.S. forces through the partnership. Much of the work focuses on policing vast stretches of largely uninhabited territory in the Sahara.

Officials say that cooperation has helped lead to the capture of elements of the Muslim militant⁸ organization Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC).

The group has announced its intention to attack French and American targets.

General Ward says greater cooperation is needed to prevent the region from becoming a base for far-reaching attacks.

"There is a demonstrated history of activities occurring in one area so they can be exported and conducted and carried out in another," he added.  "That is something we have to be concerned about and the partner nations in the trans-Saharan partnership recognize that."

The Trans-Sahara Partnership was created in 2004, building on an earlier partnership between the U.S. and four African countries.

Currently, the militaries of Algeria, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia, plus those of the United States, participate in the partnership.

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 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。

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 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

5 consolidating   

v.（使）巩固， （使）加强( consolidate的现在分词 )；（使）合并

参考例句：

• These measures are meant for consolidating the system of basic medical care. 这些举措旨在夯实基层医疗体系，让老百姓看大病不必出远门。 来自互联网
• We are consolidating the Chinese and English versions of our homepage. 我们将为您提供中英文版本一起的主页。 来自互联网

6 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

7 allocated   

adj. 分配的 动词allocate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The Ford Foundation allocated millions of dollars for cancer research. 福特基金会拨款数百万美元用于癌症研究。
• More funds will now be allocated to charitable organizations. 现在会拨更多的资金给慈善组织。

8 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。