英闻天下——264 Joseph Dunford Assumes Command of ISAF

搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号：tingroom，领取免费英语资料大礼包。

 

　　Marine¹ General Joseph Dunford replaces General John Allen, who had been in the role since July 2011, making him the longest-serving commander of the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF.

 

　　At a ceremony in the capital Kabul, Allen handed the ISAF flag over to a NATO representative who then handed it over to Dunford.

 

　　In a speech, Allen mentioned some of the guidance he had given to his successor.

 

　　"The advice that I gave him was to do all he can to understand the complexity² of this ancient society of Afghanistan. To recognize that in all of its complexity, the principles of democracy come naturally to Afghans - perhaps even easier than it came to us."

 

　　Dunford said the day's events were about continuity.

 

　　"What's not changed is the will of this coalition³. What’s not changed is the discipline and the spirit of the team. What's not changed is the growing capability⁴ of our Afghan partners, the Afghan National Security Forces."

 

　　Dunford takes over the commandership at a critical time for US President Barack Obama and the military as foreign combat forces prepare to withdraw by the end of next year.

分享到：