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The rise of jihadism in Africa is rooted in bad governance,
非洲圣戰主義起源于管理不善，
exacerbated by population pressure and climate change.
也與人口壓力和氣候變化的影響有關。
When the state is corrupt and predatory, the insurgents’ promise of religious justice can sound appealing.
當國家貪污腐敗、掠奪成性時，叛亂分子對于宗教正義的承諾可能聽起來很誘人。
There is not much outsiders can do to fix this.
外界對此也無能為力。
Africa’s governments need to step up to their responsibilities.
非洲各國政府需承擔起各自的責任。
However, outsiders can help contain the jihadists,
然而，外界可以幫助控制圣戰分子，
stopping them conquering turf or building anything resembling a state.
并阻止圣戰分子擴大地盤或建立任何類似國家的組織。
This can be done with a light touch, by modest forces, at a reasonable cost.
可以用柔和的方式、適度的軍事力量，在合理的代價范圍內做這件事。
France already has about 4,500 troops in Africa; America has about 6,000.
在非洲，法國早就有4500人的軍隊；美國則有6000人的軍隊。
These are not many boots on the ground in so vast a region.
在如此廣闊的區域，這些地面部隊并不算多。
Yet they are having an outsize effect by training, supporting and providing crucial intelligence to the African armies that are doing almost all the fighting.
但是，這些軍隊卻發揮了巨大作用，訓練、支持幾乎參與所有戰斗的非洲軍隊，并為其提供重要情報。
Western forces are helping to hold a fragile region together.
西方力量正幫助團結一個脆弱的地區。
Alas, that appears not to be a priority for President Donald Trump.
唉，這似乎不是唐納德·特朗普總統的首要任務。
Since the deaths of four American soldiers in Niger in October, American troops have been ordered to take fewer risks.
自十月份尼日爾四名美國士兵死亡，美國軍隊似乎接到命令要少去冒險。
Their commanders have been told to plan for a possible cut of up to 50% in the number of special forces assigned to the region.
美國指揮官已經接到命令，計劃將派往該地區的特種部隊數量減少50%。
The signs are that Mr Trump is about to repeat Bill Clinton’s mistake.
有跡象表明特朗普會重復比爾·克林頓的錯誤。
Mr Clinton pulled out of Somalia in 1993, as soon as dead Americans appeared on television.
1993年，電視上播出美國士兵死亡后，克林頓命令美國撤離索馬里。
Somalia later collapsed into anarchy and became a haven for jihadists and pirates.
隨后，索馬里陷入無政府狀態，成為圣戰分子和海盜的避風港。
Stopping the Sahel from falling apart would be easier than putting it back together.
阻止薩赫勒地區分崩離析要比重建容易得多。
Western troops are insurance against disaster.
西方軍隊是防災保險。
Keep paying the premiums.
保費應繼續支付。
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