VOA标准英语2009年-US Allies Pledge More Troops for Afgha

25 NATO countries and other contributors to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan have pledged about 7,000 additional troops to supplement new U.S. force commitment to Afghanistan.

David Gollust | Brussels 04 December 2009

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NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen gives a press conference at the end of NATO foreign ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, 04 Dec 2009

"There should be no misunderstanding. We are not going to leave Afghanistan to fall back into the hands of terrorists and the extremists who host them. It will not happen."

Twenty-five NATO countries and other contributors to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan have pledged about 7,000 additional troops to supplement the new U.S. force commitment to Afghanistan. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed the new commitment to the Afghan conflict, which she termed a "critical test for NATO."

The pledges announced by NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rassmussen fall short of the 10,000 additional troops that Pentagon officials hoped for.

But the NATO chief said it underlines the solidarity¹ of the 44 ISAF countries and will have a "powerful effect on the ground."

The announcement followed a closed-door briefing for NATO foreign ministers by Secretary Clinton on the new Afghan strategy announced by President Barack Obama earlier this week.

Clinton, according to a text of her remarks released by U.S. officials, said the need for additional forces - to supplement the 30,000 troops being added by the United States is urgent - but that the presence will not be indefinite.

She reaffirmed Mr. Obama's intention to begin withdrawing U.S. forces in July 2011 but said the pace, size and scope of the drawdown will be based on conditions on the ground.

At a closing press event Clinton said 2011 will by no means end the U.S. commitment to the region.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrives at NATO headquarters ahead of a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, 04 Dec 2009

 

"Speaking for the United States, our civilian² commitment will continue long after our combat forces leave. It should be clear to everyone that we will not repeat the mistakes of the past. The United States and our allies and partners have an enduring commitment to Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region," she said.

NATO chief Rasmussen also said the start of any withdrawal³ should not be been seen as the international coalition⁴ abandoning the country.

"Transition doesn't mean exit. There should be no misunderstanding. We are not going to leave Afghanistan to fall back into the hands of terrorists and the extremists who host them. It will not happen," he said.

Among countries confirming new pledges were Britain with 1,200, and Italy with one thousand.

Clinton paid special tribute to Georgia, whose added contribution of just under one thousand troops  probably makes the small Caucasus state what she termed "the largest per-capita contributor" to the NATO-ISAF mission.

But Germany and France, among the largest current  contributors, said they would make no immediate⁵ increase.

Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said France unilaterally increased its troop presence last September to some 3,800, and will not even consider another change until a conference on Afghan aid being convened⁶ by Britain in late January.

"If there is some place where, to get security for our people for the Afghans [and] we have to adjust, yes we'll do it again. But for the time being, nothing in terms of improving the number of soldiers before the London conference, where we are supposed to talk about strategy," he said.

U.S. officials said they were hopeful the 7,000 figure for new allied⁷ forces would be just a starting point, and that additional commitments could come as soon as a NATO force-generating meeting set for next week in the Belgian city of Mons.

1 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

2 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。

3 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

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 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

6 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

7 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。