VOA标准英语10月-Former US Iraq Commander Petraeus Takes on Afghan

The American general widely credited with turning around the war in Iraq takes command Friday of U.S. forces throughout the Middle East and Central Asia - putting him in charge of U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan, as well as Iraq and the surrounding region. VOA Pentagon Correspondent Al Pessin reports on the new challenges facing David Petraeus.
　

US General David Petraeus speaks to the media in London, 29 Sep 2008

It is not difficult to find praise for General David Petraeus' year-and-a-half in Iraq, during which violence dropped 80 percent and U.S. troops began to hand over responsibility to the new Iraqi forces in large parts of the country.

This is how retired¹ General Gordon Sullivan introduced Petraeus at a conference of soldiers, veterans and their supporters in Washington earlier this month.

He said, "You have a very unique opportunity today to listen to this great soldier, scholar, commander, thinker, athlete and leader of troops, a great American and a great American soldier, General David Petraeus."

Such praise appears to slightly embarrass General Petraeus, who is always quick to say he shares any credit with U.S., coalition², and Iraqi troops.

But these days, more than a month after he left Iraq, attention is shifting to what Petraeus will do in his new job, and particularly whether he will be able to apply the counterinsurgency doctrine⁴ he published and then used in Iraq to the increasingly tough fight against the Taliban, al-Qaida and associated groups in Afghanistan.

In a VOA interview, Petraeus said the Afghanistan war is a very different fight, but he also said some of what he did in Iraq will apply there.

"There are certain concepts, obviously, that apply to many contingencies⁵ - certainly the need to focus on the security of the population, to try where possible, and in the case of Afghanistan, clearly, with President Karzai's support, to pursue reconciliation⁶ where that's sensible, where it won't collide with warlordism and so forth⁷," he said.

The general's call for talks with what he calls "reconcilable" elements of the insurgency³, potentially including some Taliban elements, was endorsed⁸ by his boss, Defense⁹ Secretary Robert Gates.

General Petraeus listed a dozen other keys to counterinsurgency, including securing and living among the local people, coordinating¹⁰ with civilian¹¹ agencies from many countries and with aid groups, pursuing irreconcilable¹² enemy leaders and fighters, and training local forces to prepare for a transition of responsibility.

The general will start his command with a thorough review of the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. The Pentagon and the White House are also conducting reviews. All that will be available for the new president to evaluate and make decisions on when he takes office in January.

But General Petraeus told VOA the mission in Afghanistan will require more U.S. troops, just like he got in the famous "surge" in Iraq.

"There is no question but that Afghanistan needs additional forces. Everyone agrees with that," he said. "I am among them. The secretary of defense, chairman of the Joint¹³ Chiefs, NATO secretary general, NATO leaders, and so forth, all very much agree on that score. Precisely¹⁴ how many, what configuration¹⁵ and so forth is what will be sorted out over the course of the months ahead."
　

A US soldier walks through compound at Forward Operating Base Salerno on outskirts16 of Khost, Afghanistan (file)

Officials said the U.S. troop increase in Afghanistan could reach 20,000 or more during the coming year, in addition to the 20,000-troop increase by the United States and NATO allies during the past year. But the United States can only do that if security conditions enable it to reduce the troop level in Iraq by about the same number.

The first additional brigade of about 4,000 U.S. troops is expected to be in Afghanistan by January. The U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, General David McKiernan, says he needs a sustained increase, not just a temporary surge.

Retired U.S. Army lieutenant¹⁷ colonel and counterinsurgency expert John Nagle said General Petraeus' experience will serve him well in his new job as U.S. Central Command leader.

"The principles of counterinsurgency that General Petraeus employed so effectively in Iraq in fact have much to teach us about a better approach to the war in Afghanistan," he said. "Perhaps the most important of those lessons is the absolute necessity to create security on the ground. And the only way to do that in a lasting¹⁸ way is to put ground troops in."

But some experts warned that sending too many U.S. troops could create more opposition¹⁹. They urge a more Afghan-based approach, supported by foreign aid.

Professor Andrew Bacevich at Boston University predicted that General Petraeus will not be able to apply the formula that led to success in Iraq to create a successful strategy for Afghanistan.

"I doubt it. The two theaters of war are radically²⁰ different in terms of geopolitical setting, in terms of their history, culture, the makeup²¹ of the population," he said. "So to imagine that if there is a cookie-cutter recipe that it can be applied²² to Afghanistan I think is probably too optimistic."

Another defense analyst²³, Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution in Washington, was also skeptical²⁴ of any effort to directly apply tactics that worked in Iraq to Afghanistan.

"Afghanistan is actually in some ways a harder problem at this point, and not totally analogous²⁵ to what Iraq had been two years ago," he said. "I do think it's actually a situation that's going to require some fresh new ideas."
　

Australian soldiers of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) keep guard on top of armored vehicles, in Tirin Kot, capital of Uruzgan province (File)

General Petraeus acknowledges things have not gone well in Afghanistan in recent months, and he recognizes the country and the conflict are very different from Iraq. In addition, many players have a voice in how the Afghanistan war is conducted, including NATO countries and the Afghan government. There is also the added complexity²⁶ of insurgents²⁸ who have bases in Pakistan, and the increase in violence they have been able to generate.

He said, "In some respects, there has been a downward spiral in some areas. The trends have gone in the wrong direction. So in certain areas you clearly have to arrest those trends, reverse them, and then begin moving forward."

Afghanistan is the main challenge General Petraeus will face in his new command, but not the only one. Among the many other concerns in his region, he will also have to support the continuing U.S. effort in Iraq, manage security in the Persian Gulf²⁹, worry about the potential for conflict with Iran and work with Pakistani leaders to help address the insurgent²⁷ safe havens³⁰ along the Afghan border. Iraq was a difficult problem. Petraeus' new job is exponentially more complex.

1 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

2 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。

3 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

4 doctrine   

n.教义；主义；学说

参考例句：

• He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
• The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

5 contingencies   

n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一

参考例句：

• We must consider all possible contingencies. 我们必须考虑一切可能发生的事。
• We must be prepared for all contingencies. 我们要作好各种准备，以防意外。 来自辞典例句

6 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

7 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

8 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 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。

10 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

11 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。

12 irreconcilable   

adj.（指人）难和解的，势不两立的

参考例句：

• These practices are irreconcilable with the law of the Church.这种做法与教规是相悖的。
• These old concepts are irreconcilable with modern life.这些陈旧的观念与现代生活格格不入。

13 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。

14 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

15 configuration   

n.结构，布局，形态，(计算机)配置

参考例句：

• Geographers study the configuration of the mountains.地理学家研究山脉的地形轮廓。
• Prices range from $119 to $199,depending on the particular configuration.价格因具体配置而异，从119美元至199美元不等。

16 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

17 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

18 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

19 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

20 radically   

ad.根本地，本质地

参考例句：

• I think we may have to rethink our policies fairly radically. 我认为我们可能要对我们的政策进行根本的反思。
• The health service must be radically reformed. 公共医疗卫生服务必须进行彻底改革。

21 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

22 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

23 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。

24 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

25 analogous   

adj.相似的；类似的

参考例句：

• The two situations are roughly analogous.两种情況大致相似。
• The company is in a position closely analogous to that of its main rival.该公司与主要竞争对手的处境极为相似。

26 complexity   

n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物

参考例句：

• Only now did he understand the full complexity of the problem.直到现在他才明白这一问题的全部复杂性。
• The complexity of the road map puzzled me.错综复杂的公路图把我搞糊涂了。

27 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。

28 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

29 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

30 havens   

n.港口，安全地方( haven的名词复数 )v.港口，安全地方( haven的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Your twenty havens would back out at the last minute anyhow. 你那二十个避难所到了最后一分钟也要不认帐。 来自辞典例句
• Using offshore havens to avoid taxes and investor protections. 使用海面的港口避免税和投资者保护。 来自互联网