VOA常速英语2008年-US Lawmakers Address Fear of Failed State in Af

By Robert Raffaele
Washington, DC
15 February 2008
 

Change in Afghanistan is not coming fast enough for many U.S. lawmakers. Frustration¹ is growing in Congress about Afghanistan's booming opium² trade, the resurgence³ of the Taliban and what some say is inadequate⁴ NATO support for the international peacekeeping mission. VOA's Robert Raffaele has more from a Senate hearing on Thursday.

Some Senate lawmakers say the U.S. is doing much of the heavy lifting in Afghanistan -- with little to show for it.

One big problem: the failure to eradicate⁵ Afghanistan's poppy crop -- suspected of supplying 90 percent of the world's opium trade.

Republican Senator John Warner demanded answers from Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Richard Boucher. "You know, we're a long way from reducing it," said Mr. Boucher, "but it at least seems to have peaked out this year. But there's also a diplomatic effort, underway with other governments, to go after the funding, and to get at the money that the traffickers use, move around, and sometimes supply the Taliban," he said.

Senator John Warner then added, "Well, when are we going to see -- I'm not trying to put you on report. You're a fine public servant, trying to do the best you can. But we don't see any results."

The counter-narcotics effort in Afghanistan is among many topics addressed in two recent reports by U.S-based institutes.

One reports says NATO forces are not winning, but rather, stuck in a stalemate with Taliban forces.

Boucher said greater involvement by local governments is absolutely essential to making Afghanistan self-sufficient, and for weakening Taliban strongholds.

A key issue at the Senate hearing was the level of NATO participation⁶ in the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. Defense⁷ Secretary Robert Gates has called on other NATO countries to send more troops and equipment.

"There's no use mincing⁸ words on it, they [other NATO nations] have failed, and we should put maximum pressure on them to come through with what they need to come through with," Democratic Senator Carl Levin said.

Some additional help may be coming from Germany. Reuters reports leading politicians from Germany's governing coalition⁹ will discuss replacing a parliamentary mandate¹⁰ that limits Germany's NATO troop level to 3,500.

1 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

2 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。

3 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。

4 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

5 eradicate   

v.根除，消灭，杜绝

参考例句：

• These insects are very difficult to eradicate.这些昆虫很难根除。
• They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.他们已经在努力消灭疟疾、破伤风等疾病。

6 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。

7 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。

8 mincing   

adj.矫饰的；v.切碎；切碎

参考例句：

• She came to the park with mincing,and light footsteps.她轻移莲步来到了花园之中。
• There is no use in mincing matters.掩饰事实是没有用的。

9 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。

10 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。