2007年VOA标准英语-NATO's Future Role Debated

By Bill Rodgers
Washington
28 June 2007
 
NATO's role has changed dramatically since the end of the Cold War and some say the 26-member grouping should eventually evolve into a global security alliance.  For now, however, NATO's main challenge in maintaining its cohesion¹ and effectiveness lies in Afghanistan.  VOA's Bill Rodgers reports on the discussion over NATO's future.   

NATO Forces

From fighting in Afghanistan, to maintaining peace and stability in Kosovo, NATO's mission has changed dramatically since it was founded in 1949 to defend Western Europe against Soviet² expansion.

Now, some are calling for NATO to evolve into a global security alliance by allowing Australia, Japan, and other countries to become members and contribute forces. 

Democratic Congressman³ Tom Lantos, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made the suggestion at a recent hearing. "What, except the word Atlantic, prevents Australia, with flexibility⁴ on the part of NATO, to become a member of a renamed North Atlantic Treaty Organization? Would it not make the supreme⁵ allied⁶ commander feel more comfortable about upcoming global crises if he would have a NATO of a global reach?"

NATO's Supreme Allied Commander, General Bantz Craddock, testified at the committee hearing. He agreed on the benefits of expansion, but also warned of obstacles. "From a perspective of planning and preparing at my headquarters we are looking at the ability to expand. Is that a first step to a global enlargement?   I don't know.  That will, obviously, be a political decision. But I think it is indeed a recognition that the level of ambition is significant and, quite frankly⁷, it is not matched by the political will of the nations to meet that level of ambition and we must continue to push on our member nations to provide that capability⁸."

And it is in Afghanistan that the issue of NATO member capability is paramount⁹.  An international force of some 40,000 soldiers is in Afghanistan, with most of the troops coming from NATO's 26 members. But some member nations -- such as Germany and Spain -- have restrictions¹⁰, known as caveats¹¹, on how their forces are used. 

NATO expert Stephen Larrabee, Rand Corporation, says, "It is a challenge and a threat to cohesion. That is why it is essential, in my view, over the long-term that these caveats are reduced and eliminated if possible, otherwise the cohesion of the alliance will definitely be affected¹² and so will its effectiveness."

Discussions have taken place over the caveats and some progress has been made.  But as suicide bombings and other attacks continue, some member nations are questioning their future participation¹³ in the Afghanistan mission.

Analyst¹⁴ Larrabee believes NATO's future is at stake in Afghanistan. "We seem to be in a stalemate and a stalemate is not good enough. We will have to be able to show, if NATO has a real future, that it is able to, in fact, meet these challenges not just be engaged in a stalemate."

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said the mission in Afghanistan will not be extended beyond 2009 without a consensus¹⁵ in his country and parliament.  The comment reflects the difficulties NATO faces in maintaining cohesion as its role evolves in meeting 21st century challenges.

1 cohesion   

n.团结，凝结力

参考例句：

• I had to bring some cohesion into the company.我得使整个公司恢复凝聚力。
• The power of culture is deeply rooted in the vitality,creativity and cohesion of a nation. 文化的力量，深深熔铸在民族的生命力、创造力和凝聚力之中。

2 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

3 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

4 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

5 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

6 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。

7 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

8 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

9 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

10 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

11 caveats   

警告

参考例句：

• I would offer a caveat for those who want to join me in the dual calling. 为防止发生误解，我想对那些想要步我后尘的人提出警告。 来自辞典例句
• As I have written before, that's quite a caveat. 正如我以前所写，那确实是个警告。 来自互联网

12 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

13 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。

14 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

15 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？