Laura Bush Urges Continued US Support for Afghanistan
劳拉.布什敦促美继续支持阿富汗

　 
U.S. First Lady Laura Bush says the United States must remain engaged in Afghanistan - and she is vowing to remain involved in efforts to help Afghan women long after her husband's term in office ends.

美国第一夫人劳拉.布什说，美国必须继续在阿富汗的各项工作，她保证在她的丈夫卸任之后继续参与帮助阿富汗妇女的工作。

Mrs. Bush has used the White House spotlight to focus attention on the plight of the women and girls of Afghanistan.

劳拉.布什通过白宫的影响力引起外界关注阿富汗妇女和女童的境况。

She says there has been progress since she took up the cause - not long after the September 11 2001 attacks on the United States. But she concedes there have been setbacks too, noting the recent attack on a group of Afghan girls in Kandahar who were disfigured with acid as they walked to school.

劳拉说，她从事这项事业是在2001年美国遭到恐怖袭击后不久，从那时以来，这项工作取得了进展。不过劳拉承认，帮助阿富汗妇女的工作也遇到过挫折，她特别提到一群阿富汗女孩最近在坎大哈受到的袭击。这些女孩在上学的路上因为被人泼洒硫酸而毁容。

"The really good news is the people who did it have been arrested. There is an Afghan police force now and an Afghan army that are building up to be able to protect the people of Afghanistan internally like we all want them to. And there are many, many signs of progress," she said.

劳拉.布什说：“肇事者已经被抓，这的确是好消息。现在，阿富汗正在组建一支警察部队和一支由军人组成的队伍，这样才会有能力保护阿富汗国内的人民，这是我们一直希望他们做的。许多其它方面都显示出了进展。”

During an appearance on American television, Mrs. Bush talked at length about her hopes for Afghanistan. She made clear she believes the stakes are high, and stressed America must stay involved.

劳拉.布什在一次电视节目上详细谈了她对阿富汗的希望。她明确地表示，她认为现在是非常关键的时刻，她强调这个时候美国必须继续这项工作。

"Most people in Afghanistan want to be able to build their country, live a decent life and not be afraid of a terrorist attack. And the fact is we just need to keep working with them so they can do it," said Mrs. Bush.

劳拉说：“绝大多数阿富汗人都希望能够建设他们自己的国家，过体面的生活，不用担心受到恐怖袭击。其实，我们只需要跟他们一道努力，阿富汗人就能实现他们的愿望。”

The First Lady told NBC's Meet the Press program that she intends to remain involved in the cause after she leaves the White House, mainly through the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council at Georgetown University, and an institute being established at her husband's presidential library.

第一夫人劳拉在美国全国广播公司“会见新闻界”这档节目上说，她离开白宫后打算继续从事这项工作，主要是通过乔治城大学美国-阿富汗妇女理事会，和一个设在布什总统图书馆里的机构。

Also appearing on Meet the Press was the Afghan Ambassador to the United States, Said Jawad, who echoed the need for long term U.S. support. He was asked about the inroads Taliban militants have been able to make in rural parts of Afghanistan.

阿富汗驻美国大使赛义德.贾瓦德也在“会见新闻界”接受采访，他也认为阿富汗需要美国的长期支持。记者问他关于塔利班激进分子能够在阿富汗农村地区开展活动的问题。

"What my government needs is more resources to deliver services to provide protection to our people. In many areas where there is lack of delivery of the services because of the lack of human capital on the part of the Afghan people, or the shortage of resources, the Taliban are making a comeback. They do not provide a vision for the future of the country," said Jawad.

他回答说：“阿富汗政府需要更多资源，才能为人民提供服务和保护。许多地方，由于阿富汗人民缺乏人力，或缺乏资源而没有足够的服务，在这些地方，塔利班正在卷土重来。塔利班不会给阿富汗带来希望。”

Jawad was then questioned about the possibility of talks between the elected Afghan government and elements of the Taliban. He said the intent is to stop the cycle of revenge and violence.

记者还问贾瓦德关于阿富汗民选政府跟塔利班派系之间进行谈判的可能性。他说，谈判的目的是结束复仇和暴力的循环。

"We will not share power with them. We will not compromise on the values of the Afghan constitution. But if they realize there is no future for them in Afghanistan through military operations, they will come to the table and talk to us," he added.

贾瓦德说：“我们不会跟他们分享权力。我们不会对阿富汗宪法的价值观做出妥协。不过，如果塔利班意识到在阿富汗进行军事行动是没有前途的，他们就会坐下来跟我们谈判。”

He said there are some members of the Taliban who joined simply out of ignorance, or to escape poverty. He suggested they might be convinced to join the political process.

贾瓦德说，一些人加入塔利班组织是出于无知，或者是为了摆脱贫穷。他认为，这些人可能会被说服加入政治进程。