特朗普提名美国国防部长候选人

Trump¹ Names US Defense² Secretary Nominee 特朗普提名美国国防部长候选人

American President-elect Donald Trump named retired³ Marine⁴ General James Mattis to be his secretary of defense this week.

Mattis left military service three years ago. At the time, he led the U.S. Central Command, which carries out U.S. operations in the Middle East. He was also the Supreme⁵ Allied⁶ Commander of NATO forces.

His leadership in the fight against enemy forces in Afghanistan and Iraq won him respect among many military leaders.

General John Nicholson is the commander of international forces in Afghanistan.

“I first met him in Nangahar province in Afghanistan, where we were in a tough fight in 2006, and he’s a very inspirational leader -- I know he inspired me.”

Michael O’Hanlon writes about military affairs at the Brookings Institution, a research group in Washington.

“He’s thought of as one of the best-read, best-informed and most-experienced generals of his generation.”

O’Hanlon says Mattis knows the limits of military power. He says he believes the former general’s battlefield experience gives him persuasive⁷ power with Trump. O’Hanlon says Trump will be more likely to listen to an argument for restraint, for example, if it comes from Mattis.

Currently, Mattis is not permitted to take the office of defense secretary, however. A U.S. law bans military officers from the position who have fewer than seven years in retirement⁸. Congress would have to change that law.

The 1947 law first called for a 10-year ban. But Congress cut it to seven years in 2008. Congress has let only one general serve as secretary of defense before the time permitted by law. In 1950, Congress voted to let General George Marshall serve as secretary of defense. Marshall had been a top general during World War II.

Words in This Story

tough – adj. physically⁹ and emotionally strong; able to do hard work, to deal with harsh conditions, etc.

inspirational – adj. causing people to want to do or create something; giving inspiration

generation – n. a group of people born and living during the same time

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

5 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

6 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

7 persuasive   

adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的

参考例句：

• His arguments in favour of a new school are very persuasive.他赞成办一座新学校的理由很有说服力。
• The evidence was not really persuasive enough.证据并不是太有说服力。

8 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

9 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。