VOA标准英语2008年-French Lawmakers Vote to Extend Afghan Mission

French lawmakers voted Monday to extend their country's mission in Afghanistan with additional troops and materiel, despite popular opposition¹ and French military casualties in the region. Lisa Bryant has more for VOA from Paris.

French deputies voted 343 to 210 in favor of maintaining the country's 2,600 soldiers in Afghanistan, overcoming opposition by the opposition Socialist² party. The senate, which also is dominated by the ruling UMP party, approved the measure later in the day.

The vote came as at least 2,000 demonstrators rallied against French troop presence in Afghanistan in Paris over the weekend.

Opposition to French forces in Afghanistan has grown since an August attack that killed 10 French soldiers by the Taliban insurgency³ last month. The French government has denied reports they were inadequately⁴ prepared.
　
France's Prime Minister Francois Fillon speaking in Parliament, 22 Sep 2008

And Monday, Prime Minister Francois Fillon announced plans to reinforce France's presence in the volatile⁵ country.

Fillon said the government would deploy⁶ not only 100 more troops, but helicopters, drones and other equipment. France currently has 3,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of the 70,000-strong international force there.

The debate over keeping troops in Afghanistan is being sounded elsewhere in Europe, including neighboring Germany.

More than 5,000 people demonstrated in Berlin and in Stuttgart Saturday against plans to prolong the deployment⁷ of German troops there. Germany's lower house of parliament is expected to vote in October on whether to increase its military presence in Afghanistan from 3,500 to 4,500 troops.

 

1 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。

2 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

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 inadequately   

ad.不够地；不够好地

参考例句：

• As one kind of building materials, wood is inadequately sturdy. 作为一种建筑材料，木材不够结实。
• Oneself is supported inadequately by the money that he earns. 他挣的钱不够养活自己。

5 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

6 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

7 deployment   

n. 部署,展开

参考例句：

• He has inquired out the deployment of the enemy troops. 他已查出敌军的兵力部署情况。
• Quality function deployment (QFD) is a widely used customer-driven quality, design and manufacturing management tool. 质量功能展开(quality function deployment,QFD)是一个广泛应用的顾客需求驱动的设计、制造和质量管理工具。