2007年VOA标准英语-Coalition Forces Say Suicide Attacks Damaging T

By Mil Arcega
Washington
21 June 2007
 

Military commanders in Afghanistan say attacks against civilians² and U.S.-led forces have stepped up in recent weeks. Although the uptick in violence comes as no surprise, U.S. and Afghan officials claim the renewed offensive is hurting the enemy. VOA's Mil Arcega reports.

Since Saturday (June 16th), insurgent³ attacks in Afghanistan's volatile⁴ south has resulted in more than 100 military and civilian¹ deaths. 

Col. Martin Schweitzer, US Army (l)

The U.S. commander in southeastern Afghanistan, Colonel Martin Schweitzer, calls the attacks against NATO and U.S.-led forces "militarily insignificant⁵".  "What’s happening more often than not, I'll tell you, about nine out of ten times they're targeting the communities, they're targeting the children, they're targeting the teachers, they're targeting the doctors, and they’re targeting government officials."

Speaking to reporters via satellite, Colonel Schweitzer said the Taleban suicide bombers⁶ were hurting their cause. "The Afghan people do not appreciate that particular approach.  And despite what may or may not be hitting the airwaves, down there on the ground, in these communities, in these surrounding communities, they tell us day in and day out that they don't like it.  They don't want to be a part of it and they want more Afghan National Army forces on the ground securing their communities."

Since the start of the year, the attacks have claimed more than 2,400 lives, including civilians, militants⁷ and Western and Afghan military troops. 

Afghan Army Major General Abdul Khaliq says in the battle for the hearts and minds of Afghan citizens -- his army is winning. "They are just hating the enemy because they understand that the enemy -- that is the Taleban and the al-Qaida net -- are not giving them any good things."

But some international groups disagree. The Agency Coordinating⁸ Body for Afghan Relief  -- or ACBAR -- says goodwill⁹ toward U.S. and foreign forces has faded since the fall of the Taleban five years ago.  The group cites botched airstrikes by U.S. forces -- such as one earlier in the week that killed seven children.

Colonel Schweitzer denied news reports that coalition¹⁰ troops knew children were inside the al-Qaida safehouse when they launched the strikes. "I can guarantee you personally. As well as what we coordinated¹¹ with the different formations that there was an assessment¹² that there were no children on that particular target and that was the assessment by the military community at large, period."

The aid agencies claim the indiscriminate use of force by U.S. troops has killed more Afghan civilians than the insurgents¹³ have killed.  U.S. Army figures show the opposite.

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

5 insignificant   

adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的

参考例句：

• In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
• This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。

6 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

8 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

9 goodwill   

n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉

参考例句：

• His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
• We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。

10 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

11 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

12 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

13 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