Karzai Meets with Blair

Afghanistan’s interim(1) leader Hammond Karzai is becoming something of political superstar. His address to the British cabinet(2) made him only the second world statesman along with a certain Bill Clinton to be given that privilege(3). He thanked them for helping rescue(4) his country from occupation(5) by terrorists(6) and the Taliban, and he proved to be a shrewd politician. First came an assurance(7) to British voters【投票人；此处指老百姓】.

“I will make every possible effort to see to it that we have a transparent(8), clean, efficient bureaucracy(9). And that the money that your taxpayers have earned and given to our people is spent respectfully.”

That helped to win him applause(10). But Mr. Karzai has his wants list too. Above all he wants a much bigger international security force to hold back the warlords【军阀】 and bandits【土匪】 still roaming(11)outside Kabul. So there was pressure too on Britain’s prime minister who’s promised not to walk away.

“We all asked for it, it’s a demand by the Afghan people as a measure of commitment(12) by the international community as a symbol(13) of their commitment to Afghanistan to stay on.”

Mr.Blair was happy to pay tribute(14) to Mr. Karzai’s efforts and to offer help with reconstruction(15). But he wasn’t ready to pledge(16)any increase in troops.

“Our role in that has been limited in the way that I’ve described, but of course we will be working and discussing with other countries as to how we made sure that the security force continues as it was always intended to do, and does the work that people in Afghanistan want it to do.”

It was always going to be a harmonious(17)meeting. Mr. Karzai appreciates Tony Blair’s determination that the international community shouldn’t walk away from Afghanistan. Mr. Blair admires the way Mr. Karzai has set about his task as an interim leader. But both are going to be tested by Mr. Karzais call for a hugely expanded international security force to cover the whole of his country. Robin Oakley CNN Downing Street, London.


听音瓶颈词汇

1. interim[] adj.过渡时期的
2. cabinet[] n.内阁
3. privilege[] n.特权
4. rescue[] v.拯救
5. occupation[] n.占领
6. terrorist [] n.恐怖分子
7. assurance [] n.自信；保证
8. transparent [] adj.透明的
9. bureaucracy[] n.政府机构
10. applause[] n.鼓掌
11. roam [] v.徘徊
12. commitment [] n.义务
13. symbol[] n.象征
14. tribute[] n.表示尊敬；赞辞
15. reconstruction[] n.重建；再建
16. pledge[] v.许诺；保证
17. harmonious[] adj.和谐的

听音高级短语

along with 与…在一起；在…以外
above all 首先；最重要的
hold back 阻碍
stay on 继续停留
set about 着手；开始(做)

听音超级句型

He thanked them for helping…
他感谢他们……的帮助。

I will make every possible effort to see to it that we have a transparent, clean, efficient bureaucracy.
我将尽一切努力使我们有一个透明、廉洁和高效的政府机构。

卡尔扎伊会晤布莱尔

阿富汗临时政府主席卡尔扎伊成为了政治明星。他在英国内阁会议上的发言，使他成为继美国前总统克林顿之后第二个受此特殊待遇的官员。他感谢他们帮助阿富汗从恐怖主义和塔利班的占领下解救出来。他被证明是一位精明的政治家。首先他就给英国人民作保证：

“我将尽一切努力使我们有一个透明、廉洁和高效的政府机构，并且会非常恭敬地把你们每一位纳税人挣来的钱用到实处。”

那番话使他赢得了人们的掌声。当然，卡尔扎伊也有更多的期望。首要的是，他要求有一支更强大的国际安全力量以便肃清仍然盘踞在喀布尔外的军阀和土匪。这给许诺一直援助阿富汗的英国首相带来了压力。

“我们需要帮助，这是阿富汗人民的需求，是国际社会以及阿富汗对你们承诺给予阿富汗人民支助的衡量尺度与体现。”

布莱尔对卡尔扎伊的努力表示赞扬，并乐意帮助阿富汗战后重建。但他没有许诺增派军队。

“正如我描述过的那样，在担任援助阿富汗人民的角色上，英国的作用是有限的。当然，我们会同其它国家合作并讨论继续增派安全部队的问题，正如我们一直以来努力的那样，做阿富汗人民想要我们做的工作。”

这是一个和谐的会议。卡尔扎伊赞赏布莱尔坚持国际社会不应撤离阿富汗的决心。而布莱尔也钦佩卡尔扎伊作为一位过渡政府领导人所做的一切工作。但他们的合作将受到卡尔扎伊呼吁大量增派国际安全部队以便覆盖阿富汗全境的考验。CNN记者罗宾•欧克莱伦敦唐宁街报道。