VOA标准英语2009年-McChrystal Says Obama Decision 'Change

Commander of US, NATO forces in Afghanistan welcomed President Obama's revised strategy and tells troops there is level of commitment we have not had before

Al Pessin | Washington 02 December 2009

 
Photo: International Security Assistance Force
Gen. Stanley McChrystal addresses his staff shortly after President Obama's announcement of a new Afghanistan war strategy

The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, has welcomed President Obama's revised strategy and his decision to add 30,000 troops to the effort, even though the general was reported to have wanted at least 10,000 more.  And he told a gathering¹ of some of his troops Wednesday their main focus will be on transferring responsibility for security to the Afghan Army and Police.

In a statement issued just before the president's speech, General McChrystal said the long strategy review provided him with "a clear military mission and the resources to accomplish" it.  Later, speaking to some of his troops in Afghanistan, the general said after the president's deployment² decision and speech "things are different." "We have a level of commitment that we have not had before, and that will change everything," he said.

General McChrystal said the key objectives are to improve security and transfer responsibility to the Afghan forces "as rapidly as conditions allow."  President Obama said the transition to Afghan control will begin by July of 2011.

To help accomplish that, General McChrystal noted³ that the training unit for Afghan forces is now a NATO command, rather than being just an American responsibility. "It is now a coalition⁴ effort, and it is our main effort.  Developing the capability⁵ of Afghan national security forces is the most important thing we do in the future," he said.

The general said he has already started working more closely with Afghan forces, by integrating some of their commanders into his headquarters, along with other coalition partners. "We do it as a team now, where a few months ago we didn't do it along with our Afghan partners, now, every day, we are all together in the same venues⁶ and we pass information.  The key is we fight the same war now," he said.

Still, even with the increased U.S. commitment, the expected increase in NATO forces and the new emphasis on developing Afghan forces, General McChrystal told his troops there is a long, difficult fight ahead. "There are going to be more long nights, more cold days, more memorial services, more frustrations⁷, more questions, more answers to questions, but there are also going to be more Afghans with a chance, more Afghans with security, more Afghans with the ability to make the choice for their future, to build the country the way they want it," he said.

The general said international forces will need to lead the fight against the Taliban until Afghan forces are ready to take over.  But he said the war will not be won by just killing⁸ insurgents⁹.  Rather, he said, it will be won when the Afghan people are convinced that the coalition and the Afghan government offer the best hope for their future.

 

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 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。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 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。

5 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

6 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

7 frustrations   

挫折( frustration的名词复数 )； 失败； 挫败； 失意

参考例句：

• The temptation would grow to take out our frustrations on Saigon. 由于我们遭到挫折而要同西贡算帐的引诱力会增加。
• Aspirations will be raised, but so will frustrations. 人们会产生种种憧憬，但是种种挫折也会随之而来。

8 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

9 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