Effects of Taliban Prisoner Release Unclear

From VOA Learning English, this is In The News.

Five members of Afghanistan's Taliban rejoined their families this week after 13 years in detention. The United States had been holding the five at its prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The U.S. government recently sent them to Qatar in exchange for the only American soldier held in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was believed to have been held prisoner for almost five years. U.S. officials believe his captors belong to the Haqqani network, a group with links to the Taliban.

Defense Department officials say Sergeant Bergdahl's release followed several weeks of secret, indirect talks. The government of Qatar reportedly assisted in the negotiations.

In Washington last Saturday, President Barack Obama praised the soldier's release.

"He wasn't forgotten by his community in Idaho, or the military, which rallied to support the Bergdahls through thick and thin. And he wasn't forgotten by his country – because the United States of American does not ever leave our men and women in uniform behind."

Republican Party lawmakers welcomed Bowe Bergdahl's release, but questioned the prisoner exchange. Senator John McCain was himself a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. He described the five Afghans as hardened terrorists and violent extremists. He and other Republicans wanted the Obama administration to explain what steps were taken to make sure the five never return to fight against the United States.

The government in Afghanistan was angered at President Obama's decision to release the detainees. The Afghan foreign ministry said the decision was a possible violation of international law.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has defended the agreement to exchange the detainees for Sergeant Bergdahl. He also defended the decision not to inform Congress before the exchange took place, as required by law.

Secretary Hagel said he does not think the deal will endanger U.S. military personnel or civilians by inviting future deals with hostage-takers.

The events leading up to the capture of the American in 2009 remain unclear. A soldier who served with him said the former prisoner is no hero.

"People calling him a hero or calling him this great soldier? It's a spit in the face to all the soldiers who were there."

That was former Army Sergeant Evan Buetow. He was Bowe Bergdahl's team leader in Afghanistan. He says he is happy Sergeant Bergdahl is safe. But he says he cannot understand celebrating a soldier he says just walked away from his base.

On social media, others accused Bowe Bergdahl of walking away and of getting U.S. troops killed as a result of his actions.

Jonah Blank is with the RAND Corporation policy group. He notes the Army recognized the soldier with promotions not once, but twice during his captivity. He says this suggests his actions were nothing less than honorable.

Army Secretary John McHugh has made clear the military's first goal is to make sure Sergeant Bergdahl regains his health. He says once that happens, the Army will launch what he called a "comprehensive, coordinated" investigation of the soldier's disappearance.

And that's In The News from VOA Learning English. I'm Steve Ember.

词汇解析

belong

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

vi.应归入;属于

参考例句

用作不及物动词 (vi.)

The sentences should belong in a different classification.

这些句子应归入另外一类。

All these houses belong to the people's commune.

这些房子都是属于人民公社的。

indirect

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adj.间接的;迂回的;次要的;不坦率的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The teacher just gave us an indirect answer.

老师只是给了我们一个间接的回答。

His indirect way of telling me to leave annoyed me.

他那种不直截了当地让我离开的方式激怒了我。

community

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.社区;社会;公众;共同体;团体;共享;共有;[生]群落

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

Community colleges have become popular and their enrollments have increased rapidly.

社区大学日渐增多，报名人数迅速增长。

The political community is composed of a number of diverse economic and functional groups.

政治共同体由一系列在经济上和功能上不同的团体组成。

victim

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.受害者;受骗者;牺牲

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

She fell an easy victim to his temptation.

她经不起他的诱惑，轻易地被骗了。

He was the victim of injustice.

他是不公平的牺牲者。

ministry

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.(政府的)部;内阁;(全体)牧师

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The army, navy and airforce are all controlled by the Ministry of Defense.

陆海空军皆由国防部控制。

He felt no vocation for the ministry.

他不以为做牧师是自己的天职。

personnel

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.职员;人事部门

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The personnel are not happy to change these rules.

全体工作人员对改变这些规定很不高兴。

For more information about the job, please contact the personnel manager.

要了解更多工作详情,请和人事部经理联系。

leading

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

adj.领导的;指导的;主要的;在前的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

He is a leading cadre.

他是个领导干部。

capture

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

vt.捕获;占领;夺取;吸引;(用照片等)留存

n.捕获;战利品

参考例句

用作及物动词 (vt.)

The company looks forward to capturing the Canadian market.

该公司期待获得加拿大市常

用作名词 (n.)

Rybalko's defeat left Kharkov wide open, and Manstein soon set his panzers rolling north again to capture the prize.

雷巴尔科的失败时的哈尔科夫门户大开，曼施泰因很快把他的装甲部队调往北部，再次去俘获战利品。