VOA常速英语2008年-NATO to Beef Up Forces in Afghanistan; No Accor

By Paula Wolfson
Bucharest
02 April 2008

NATO leaders have devised a plan to bolster¹ alliance forces in parts of Afghanistan where the threat of combat is high. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports it was one of the first signs of consensus² to emerge from the NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania.

The plan to send extra troops to Afghanistan focuses on the troubled south of the country.

France says it will send an extra battalion³ - roughly 700 to 800 troops - to eastern Afghanistan to free American Marines who will be redeployed along with Canadian forces in the south.

NATO Spokesman James Appathurai predicts more NATO members will step up their commitments of troops, military training, and aid during the summit. He says at a working dinner opening the Bucharest summit, leaders of the 26 NATO countries showed they are unified⁴ on Afghanistan.

"...a clear unity⁵ within the alliance that this is a mission that must succeed, that will succeed," said James Appathurai.

But Appathurai makes clear there is likely to be no meeting of the minds at the summit on Ukraine and Georgia's request for a NATO Membership Action Plan - or MAP. It is a move that is vehemently⁶ opposed by Russia, and NATO members France and Germany have expressed reservations.

"I would be happy to be wrong, but I do not expect MAP for Georgia and Ukraine," he said.

Apparthurai indicates, however, there will not be outright⁷ rejection⁸ and the request will, in essence, be put on hold.

"The general sense was that Membership Action Plan for Georgia and Ukraine is a matter not of whether, but of when," said Appathurai.

The NATO spokesman says at the dinner, leaders expressed general support for all three of the countries that are scheduled to receive an invitation to join the trans-Atlantic alliance. He says Albania, Croatia and Macedonia have all shown they are ready to become full members of NATO. But he predicts action on Macedonia will be delayed because of a long-standing dispute with Greece over its name.

For the Bush administration the early results of the summit are mixed. President Bush has urged the alliance to put Georgia and Ukraine on the path to membership, while calling on NATO members to increase support for Afghanistan.

One other issue of major importance to the White House is the U.S. plan to put a missile defense⁹ system in Europe. NATO is likely to issue some sort of statement of support during the summit - a move that is not likely to sit well with Russian President Vladimir Putin who considers the plan a security threat.

Mr. Putin will join the NATO leaders on Friday for a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. On Sunday, President Bush will meet with the Russian leader at his vacation home in the Russian resort town of Sochi. Russian president-elect Dmitry Medvedev will also attend the talks.

1 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

2 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？

3 battalion   

n.营；部队；大队(的人)

参考例句：

• The town was garrisoned by a battalion.该镇由一营士兵驻守。
• At the end of the drill parade,the battalion fell out.操练之后，队伍解散了。

4 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

5 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

6 vehemently   

adv. 热烈地

参考例句：

• He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈，以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
• Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。

7 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

8 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

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。