VOA标准英语2009年-British Lawmakers Critical of UK's Role in

A powerful cross-party parliamentary committee has strongly criticized the British government for its handling of the war in Afghanistan.

In blunt terms, the Foreign Affairs Select Committee report says Britain's military mission in Afghanistan has failed to deliver what it promised, because troops are being asked to do too many different tasks.
　
British parliament member Mike Gapes¹ speaks during a press conference (File)

Committee chairman Michael Gapes says mission goals have become less clear over the years.

"There was, after 2001, a change of approach, a form of mission creep, whereby we took on far more priorities than simply security and removing al-Qaeda and the Taliban as their host," Gapes said. "And, we ended up being involved in state-building and counter-narcotics and human rights and nation development, which actually took the focus away from the main priority."

Commenting on the report, former head of the British army General Michael Jackson says he believes the committee is trying to stress that there is room for improvement.

"What the committee is saying, I think, is that the way in which the job is being done needs some improvement," Jackson said. "It is a complex task, and it involves far more than just the military. We have got to bring it all together and integrate it, not only in Britain but internationally as well."

Defending the government's approach to Afghanistan, Armed forces minister Bill Rammell says confronting the Taliban in Afghanistan keeps the streets of Britain safer.

"If you go back to 2001, there were huge numbers of terrorists, under Taliban control, being trained in terrorist training camps to target this country and others," Rammell said. "And, I have no doubt that, were we to withdraw tomorrow, then that threat would be returned, and it would increase. And, that is why this campaign is so important."

But that view is out of step with many in war-weary Britain. Fifty-two percent of those recently polled by the Independent newspaper support an immediate² pull-out of British troops from Afghanistan. And nearly three-out-of-five believe the war against the insurgency³ cannot be won with military power.

1 gapes   

v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的第三人称单数 )；张开，张大

参考例句：

• His shirt gapes open with a button missing. 他的衬衫因丢了一颗纽扣而敞开着。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then, sometimes, the door slowly opens and gapes ajar for a moment. 有时房门会慢慢打开，敞着不动。 来自互联网

2 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。

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