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Afghanistan Asking for US Troop Withdrawal Adjustment

The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan says President Ashraf Ghani has requested greater flexibility in the final drawdown of America’s military presence in the country, expected to be completed by 2017. General John Campbell appeared to confirm recent media reports that the Obama administration is looking at options to adjust the pace of withdrawal this year - while remaining firm that the military mission in Afghanistan will end on time.

The longest war in U.S. history continues to wind down, but this year’s target of reducing U.S. troop levels to less than 6,000 could be in flux, according to General John Campbell, who appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“President Ghani is a credible and effective partner. He has asked for NATO and the United States to provide some flexibility in our planning to account for the fact that his government remains in transition. I have provided options on adjusting our force posture through my chain of command," said Campbell.

Slowing the U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan would find backing in the Republican-led Congress, where some lawmakers believe America’s withdrawal from Iraq set the stage for the rise of the Islamic State. Committee chairman John McCain warned against a repeat in Afghanistan.

“The lack of presence creates a vacuum, and we have seen what fills that vacuum in Syria and Iraq. The ungoverned spaces will allow terrorists to foment the same disaster in Afghanistan as we have seen in Iraq," said McCain.

A similar concern was expressed a day earlier by former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker.

“We have to understand that wars don’t end when we withdraw our troops. That is what our adversaries are waiting for. And I hope we maintain the requisite force levels to ensure that we are supporting the Afghan military and police," said Crocker.

The Obama administration is stressing day-to-day flexibility in pursuit of a fixed, long-term goal. White House spokesman Josh Earnest:

“The president has authorized and ordered a staged withdrawal, a responsible withdrawal of American military personnel from Afghanistan. And the president throughout that time has preserved for himself the flexibility to respond to the security situation on ground," said Earnest.

General Campbell said cooperation between the international forces and Afghanistan has improved since President Ghani assumed office and a bilateral agreement was signed allowing a continued U.S. military presence in the country. He said U.S. and NATO-trained Afghan security forces have been tested in battle, and “held their own against a determined enemy.”

词汇解析

response

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.反应；回答；响应；答复

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The tax cuts produced a favourable response from the public.

税额削减受到了公众的欢迎.

I'm sorry; the correct response is B.

不好意思,正确回答应该是B。

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collective

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adj.集体的；共同的

n.集体

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

Chorus is a collective vocality performing art.

合唱是集体的声乐表演艺术。

用作名词 (n.)

We were welded into a fighting collective.

我们结成一个战斗集体。

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executive

难度：2星扩展词汇，属常用10000词

英汉解释

adj.行政的；决策的；经营的；[计算机]执行指令

n.行政主管；行政部门；决策者

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

He is on the executive committee.

他是该执行委员会委员。

用作名词 (n.)

An executive should be experienced in administration.

一个管理者应有行政管理的经验。

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graceful

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adj.优雅的；得体的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

His refusal was worded in such a graceful way that we could not be offended.

他的拒绝是那样委婉得体，所以我们并未感到不快。

Her apology was so graceful that we forgave her.

她的道歉很得体, 我们只好原谅了她。

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liver

难度：2星扩展词汇，属常用10000词

英汉解释

n.肝脏；生活的人

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The poor man has a serious disease of the liver.

这个可怜的人患有严重的肝玻

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external

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.外来的；外部的；外面的；表面的

n.外观；外部；外界事物

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

This news program only covers external events.

这一新闻节目只报道国外消息。

用作名词 (n.)

The external features of the building are very attractive.

这座建筑物的外观是很吸引人的。

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vacant

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adj.空虚的；空的；木然的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

Absence of occupation is not rest, a mind quite vacant is a mind distress.

无所事事不是休息，十分空虚的心灵是痛苦的心灵。

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