2007年VOA标准英语-Bush to Welcome Karzai at Camp David Presidenti

By Robert Raffaele
Washington
03 August 2007
 
U.S. President George W. Bush is scheduled to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai Sunday August 5-6 at Camp David, the presidential retreat outside Washington.  It will be Mr. Karzai's first visit to Camp David.  He comes as U.S. coalition¹ forces in Afghanistan are battling a resurgent Taleban rebellion, with southern Afghanistan hard-hit by fighting that has killed thousands.  VOA's Robert Raffaele has more.

Presidents George W. Bush and Hamid Karzai (file photo)

The two leaders last met at the White House in September. Their agenda this time is expected to be much the same -- Afghanistan's long-term democracy, prosperity and security.

U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters earlier this week (Thursday, August 2nd) that U.S.-led and NATO forces must train Afghanistan's security forces to reclaim² areas from the Taleban, so that Afghanistan's government can take control. "You need to train the military forces to be able to do that, to push them out. You need to train the security forces, more generally, the police, to be able to hold and provide stability and safety for the inhabitants. And you need to bring in the assistance."

To that end, Boucher announced the U.S. will spend 10-point-one billion dollars for emergency Afghan reconstruction³, development, governance and security projects this year.

Another issue: Afghan opium⁴ harvesting. Boucher says there are various drug networks that are linked with the Taleban, with the Taleban enjoying profits.

William Byrd of the World Bank says the Afghan government's efforts to wipe out opium crops often have the opposite effect, due to local corruption⁵. "Through political connections or bribes⁷, farmers will avoid being eradicated⁸."

"It tends to disproportionately affect the poor -- those farmers who don't have money or political connections in order to bribe⁶ their way out of their field being eradicated. So this is an issue and the same issue can come up in interdiction⁹: who gets arrested, which traders get arrested, are they the ones who are closer to some of the local political interests or are they opposed to it?"

The State Department says despite the drug trade problem, Afghanistan's economy is growing at a healthy rate. Richard Boucher also pointed¹⁰ to increased road and school construction across the country, and decreasing rates in infant mortality.

1 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。

2 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

3 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

4 opium   

n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的

参考例句：

• That man gave her a dose of opium.那男人给了她一剂鸦片。
• Opium is classed under the head of narcotic.鸦片是归入麻醉剂一类的东西。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 bribe   

n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通

参考例句：

• He tried to bribe the policeman not to arrest him.他企图贿赂警察不逮捕他。
• He resolutely refused their bribe.他坚决不接受他们的贿赂。

7 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

8 eradicated   

画着根的

参考例句：

• Polio has been virtually eradicated in Brazil. 在巴西脊髓灰质炎实际上已经根除。
• The disease has been eradicated from the world. 这种疾病已在全世界得到根除。

9 interdiction   

n.禁止；封锁

参考例句：

• the Customs Service's drug interdiction programs 海关的毒品查禁方案
• In addition to patrol duty, blastboats are dispatched for planetary defense and interdiction missions. 除了例行巡逻，炮艇还被赋予行星防御和封锁的任务。

10 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。