VOA标准英语2012--Obama, Karzai Sign US-Afghan Postwar Security Pact

 

Obama, Karzai Sign US-Afghan Postwar Security Pact¹

President Obama made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan Tuesday, arriving under the cover of darkness to sign the U.S.-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership² Agreement.

At the presidential palace in Kabul, President Obama talked about the importance of the document, which sets out a 10-year strategic partnership after NATO forces end their combat role in 2014.

“Together, we are now committed to replacing war with peace, and pursuing a more hopeful future as equal partners," said President Obama.

After expressing thanks to U.S. troops at Bagram Air Base, Obama announced the agreement to the American people.

“Today, I signed an historic agreement between the United States and Afghanistan that defines a new kind of relationship between our countries," said Obama.

The president said that at this month’s NATO summit in Chicago, the coalition³ will set a goal for Afghan forces to be in the lead for combat operations across the country next year.

“International troops will continue to train, advise and assist the Afghans, and fight alongside them when needed," he said. "But we will shift into a support role as Afghans step forward.”

The agreement signals that the U.S. will continue to work with Afghanistan in the long term, according to Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at Washington’s Center for American Progress.

“This agreement will offer that reassurance⁴ that we are not going to abandon them, that we will actually be with them, and that we will work with them," said Katulis.

Katulis says the strategic agreement also gives the Afghan government incentive⁵ to tackle its longstanding problem with corruption⁶.

“For the Afghan people, I think this agreement will tangibly⁷ send this message that the United States and its NATO allies will continue to provide economic support, will help you diplomatically - if you fulfill⁸ your commitments," he said.

The agreement was signed exactly one year after U.S. Navy SEALs killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin⁹ Laden¹⁰ in Pakistan.

And the president reminded Americans that the original goal of the war - disrupting al-Qaida’s ability to launch terror strikes - had been met.

“This time of war began in Afghanistan, and this is where it will end," said Obama.

Obama reassured¹¹ Karzai that the U.S. has accomplished¹² its aim in Afghanistan, and will not build permanent bases there. 

The U.S. has more than 90,000 troops in Afghanistan. That number is expected to shrink to 65,000 by the end of this year, and to fewer than 20,000 by the end of 2014. 

1 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

2 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

3 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。

4 reassurance   

n.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• He drew reassurance from the enthusiastic applause.热烈的掌声使他获得了信心。
• Reassurance is especially critical when it comes to military activities.消除疑虑在军事活动方面尤为关键。

5 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 tangibly   

adv.可触摸的，可触知地，明白地

参考例句：

• Suddenly the problem of future loomed tangibly for me. 突然，前途的问题明确地出现在我眼前。 来自辞典例句
• Virtue is tangibly rewarded. 善行得到具体的报答。 来自互联网

8 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

9 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

10 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

11 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。