2007年VOA标准英语-Karzai Rebukes International Community

By Robert Raffaele
Washington
31 August 2007
 

Afghan poppies

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is blaming the international community for not doing more to stop poppy production in his country. Mr. Karzai's criticism follows the release this week of a United Nations' report that cites booming opium¹ production in Afghanistan. VOA's Robert Raffaele has more.

The U.N. report found opium production in Afghanistan has exploded to a record high -- with the country supplying 93 percent of the heroin², morphine,and other opiates on the world market. 

Hamid Karzai

Afghan President Hamid Karzai discussed the U.N. report at a meeting of government, tribal³ and religious leaders in Kabul. He said there is  "not enough international cooperation" in his country's fight against drugs.

Mr. Karzai said opium production is low in areas where his government has control, but higher in areas where foreign troops are fighting Taleban insurgents⁴. 

The United States and Britain have committed more than $500 million to combat drug production and promote alternative crops in Afghanistan.

The U.N. report found some progress, but found that Taleban insurgents are playing an increasingly important role in the region's drug trade.

Elaine Shannon

Elaine Shannon is a former Time (magazine) correspondent, who now works with the private Public Welfare Foundation in Washington, D.C. She says, unless defeated, the Taleban could use drug profits to endanger the entire region. "People who are inside, and I've talked with them, say, 'We don't know whether we're going to win or lose Afghanistan as part of the civilized⁵ world,' where it is going to end up being a narco-state, except for maybe Kabul and a couple of other population centers. But it is certainly a security threat to the rest of the world."

Shannon says concerned nations must convince all involved in the harvesting of poppy -- from local warlords to farmers -- that the Taleban's protection comes at a perilous⁶ price. "Okay, you did it, this is how you survived, this is how your people survived, but now it's time to build a nation. And that nation cannot be built on organized crime.  Your sons will be killed, your daughters may be taken away, you will have no recourse -- you need an orderly society, because that is the way for your family's future"

Shannon says the absence of a legitimate⁷ legal system in Afghanistan is also a major hindrance⁸ to the anti-drug effort. "Right now in most villages -- it's village law. And no major traffickers have been arrested. They have got to have a system for amassing⁹ evidence. Right now, there really isn't one much."

Antonio Maria Costa

The director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Maria Costa, urged the Afghan government to actively¹⁰ seek out and destroy more opium fields.

He also called for international forces to step up direct attacks on the illegal drug trade.

1 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。

2 heroin   

n.海洛因

参考例句：

• Customs have made their biggest ever seizure of heroin.海关查获了有史以来最大的一批海洛因。
• Heroin has been smuggled out by sea.海洛因已从海上偷运出境。

3 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

4 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

5 civilized   

a.有教养的，文雅的

参考例句：

• Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
• rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

6 perilous   

adj.危险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• The journey through the jungle was perilous.穿过丛林的旅行充满了危险。
• We have been carried in safety through a perilous crisis.历经一连串危机，我们如今已安然无恙。

7 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

8 hindrance   

n.妨碍，障碍

参考例句：

• Now they can construct tunnel systems without hindrance.现在他们可以顺利地建造隧道系统了。
• The heavy baggage was a great hindrance to me.那件行李成了我的大累赘。

9 amassing   

v.积累，积聚( amass的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The study of taxonomy must necessarily involve the amassing of an encyclopaedic knowledge of plants. 分类学研究一定要积累广博的植物知识。 来自辞典例句
• Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网

10 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。