阿富汗战争遭受多方的质疑

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The rising number of American and British casualties in Afghanistan has prompted renewed criticism about the current allied operation against the Taliban. Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown has insisted that the campaign is showing signs of success. This follows the death of another eight British soldiers in just one day, three of them only 18 years old.

All the soldiers killed in the army's worst 24 hours in Helmand have now been named with the final six names released today. Five men were from the 2nd Battalion the Rifles: Rifleman William Aldridge, Rifleman James Backhouse, Corporal Jonathan Horne, Rifleman Joseph Murphy, and Rifleman Daniel Simpson, all killed on the same patrol. The Corporal Lee Scott was named with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment killed on Friday also by a Taliban bomb. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown seen here on his last trip to Helmand in April is now under growing attack over the strategy and resourcing of British troops in this campaign. Afghanistan, its war, it’s now firmly back on the political agenda. Despite the grim news of the past week, Gordon Brown insists the Britain’s forces are winning the battle against the Taliban. 

"Despite the loss of life and it’s tragic and very, very sad indeed when there’s loss of life, that our forces are doing a magnificent job in moving forward."

Severe fighting in Helmand continues with British forces seeking to dominate the ground. More questions here at home. Have Britain’s leaders really backed the troops enough? Equipment has improved since Iraq campaign, but there are still crucial gaps.

"There is [are] enough helicopters and nobody can stand up and be able to justify it out. Some journeys are being done by vehicle which should be done by helicopter. And that's costing lives. "

When the American leadership felt that the campaign in Afghanistan was drifting, it’s deepening its resolve and putting more resources. Some here are asking if Britain is prepared to do the same.

American troops are also suffering their highest casualty rate since operations began in 2001. Four American soldiers were killed in seperate roadside bomb attacks on Saturday and seven last Monday alone. US forces form the bulk of the troops fighting on the ground in this NATO-led coalition, but this weekend President Obama said Britain’s contribution to the mission remained critical.

"Great Britain has played an extraordinary role in this coalition, understanding that we can not allow either Afghanistan or Pakistan be a safe haven for al-Qaeda, those who with impunity blow up train stations in London or buildings in New York and so we've got a core mission that we have to accomplish."

Yet, British soldiers and their families are paying a heavy price indeed. This government has yet to convince the nation that the campaign in Afghanistan is worth that sacrifice.

And another two US Marines were killed by roadside bomb in Helmand Province over the weekend. A third service member wounded last month has died of his injuries, bringing the total US death toll in Afghanistan this year to 104.

Taliban: a Sunni Islamist, predominantly Pashtun fundamentalist religious and political movement that governed Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, when its leaders were removed from power by Northern Alliance and NATO forces.

Helmand: one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the southwest of the country. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. Helmand is the world's largest opium-producing region, responsible for 42% of the world's total production. Much of the fighting between NATO and Taliban forces is taking place in this province.

battalion [countable]: a large group of soldiers consisting of several companies (company)

the Rifles: a regiment of the British Army. It consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, making the regiment the largest in the infantry.

rifleman [countable]: a man who uses a rifle

corporal [countable]: a low rank in the army, air force etc

Royal Tank Regiment: an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment (1RTR) and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment (2RTR).

resourcing: the efficient and effective deployment for an organization's resources when they are needed

grim: making you feel worried or unhappy

severe: very difficult and needing a lot of effort and skill

drift [intransitive]: to gradually change from being in one condition, situation etc into another without realizing it

resolve [uncountable]: strong determination to succeed in doing something

the bulk (of something): the main or largest part of something

safe haven [countable]: a place where someone can go in order to escape from possible danger or attack

al-Qaeda: an Islamist group founded sometime between August 1988 and late 1989/early 1990. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless arm and a fundamentalist Sunni movement calling for al-qaeda al-sulbah (a vanguard of the strong).

with impunity: if someone does something bad with impunity, there is no risk that they will be punished for it

somebody has yet to do something: used to say that someone has not done something, or that something has not happened when you think it should already have been done or have happened

Marine [countable]: a soldier who serves on a ship, especially a member of the Royal Marines or the US Marine Corps

death toll [countable usually singular]: the total number of people who die in an accident, war etc