布什总统与北约首脑举行会谈

20 布什总统与北约首脑举行会谈

President Bush Meets with NATO Leaders
Deborah Tate
Brussels
13 Jun 2001 12:19 UTC

President Bush is meeting with NATO leaders in Brussels to discuss his anti-missile defense¹ plan, a proposal many European 1)allies fear could 2)undermine arms control.
In his remarks to NATO leaders at the start of their meeting at 3)alliance 4)headquarters, Mr. Bush did not specifically mention his proposed anti-missile defense plan.
But he did talk about the need for NATO to be ready to meet new challenges. Bush said "We must strengthen our alliance, modernize² our forces and prepare for new threats." The phrase 'new threats' is a reference to potential missile attack from so-called 5)rogue nations like Iran and North Korea, and the reason Mr. Bush argues for his proposed missile 6)shield.
But NATO allies are skeptical³ of the seriousness of such 7)threats. They also view a missile defense network as a 8)provocative act that would 9)escalate the global arms race by prompting Russia, China and other nations to develop offensive weapons that could overwhelm any defense.
In addition, allies are concerned by Mr. Bush's desire to back away from 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which he calls a Cold War relic⁴, to allow for the establishment of a missile shield. Europeans view the pact⁵ as a 10)cornerstone of arms control and favor 11)retaining it.
While acknowledging that its proposal to scrap⁶ the treaty 12)unsettles some Europeans, the Bush administration believes it is a vital step in achieving a new strategic environment.

(1) allies[`AlaIz]n.联盟国, 同盟者
(2) undermine[QndE5maIn]v.破坏
(3) alliance[E5laIEns]n.联盟, 联合
(4) headquarters[hed5kwB:tEz]n.司令部, 指挥部, 总部
(5) rogue[rEJ^]n.流氓, 无赖vt.欺诈vi.流浪, 耍无赖
(6) shield[Fi:ld]n.防护物, 护罩vt.(from) 保护, 防护v.遮蔽
(7) threat[Wret]n.恐吓, 凶兆, 威胁
(8) provocative[prE5vRkEtIv]adj.煽动的n.刺激物
(9) escalate[5eskEleIt]vi.逐步升高, 逐步增强vt.使逐步上升
(10) cornerstone[5kC:nEstEJn]n.墙角石, 基础
(11) retain[rI5teIn]vt.保持, 保留
(12) unsettle[Qn5set(E)l]v.不安

 

1 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。

2 modernize   

vt.使现代化，使适应现代的需要

参考例句：

• It was their manifest failure to modernize the country's industries.他们使国家进行工业现代化，明显失败了。
• There is a pressing need to modernise our electoral system.我们的选举制度迫切需要现代化。

3 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

4 relic   

n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物

参考例句：

• This stone axe is a relic of ancient times.这石斧是古代的遗物。
• He found himself thinking of the man as a relic from the past.他把这个男人看成是过去时代的人物。

5 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

6 scrap   

n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废

参考例句：

• A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
• Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。