VOA标准英语2010年-Britain Cuts Defense Spending

Britain on Tuesday announced plans to cut the country's defense¹ budget that include losing thousands of troops and slashing² weapons programs. British allies are concerned that the cuts might affect the country's status as a global power.

British Prime Minister David Cameron says national defense is the first duty of any government, and that restructuring Britain's armed forces is necessary.

"We will look at the real threats we face today in our world, whether it is from cyber terrorism, whether it is from international terrorism or terrorism that comes from dissident republicans in Northern Ireland," said Cameron. "We will look at the modern threats we face in a modern world and make sure our armed forces are fit to face them."

Mr. Cameron says Britain will spend about $800,000 during the next four years on a national cyber security program.

"This will significantly enhance our ability to detect and defend against cyber attacks, and it will fix shortfalls in the critical cyber infrastructure³ on which the whole country now depends," Cameron added.

Under the plan, Britain will scrap⁴ several plane systems, decommission several ships early, eliminate some 25,000 military-related civilian⁵ jobs and reduce its number of troops by about 7,000. There will be no cuts for troops or equipment in Afghanistan.

Malcolm Chalmers is an analyst⁶ at London's Royal United Services Institute.

"I think for a number of years now, Britain's policy has been based centrally on NATO - on operating militarily along with allies, particularly the United States. The United States, perhaps, will find that perhaps we can make a smaller contribution. But I think it will still be the most important military power in NATO Europe," noted⁷ Chalmers.

While in Europe last week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States is concerned about the cutbacks. Britain has been America's strongest ally in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr. Cameron says the cuts will not hurt Britain's "special relationship" with the United States.

"I talked to President Obama last night about some of the decisions that we are taking, and the Americans and he absolutely believe that it will allow us to maintain that very strong partnership⁸ with the United States and with NATO," said Prime Minister Cameron.

Chalmers says Britain is the third largest military spender in the world, behind the United States and China, and that despite an eight percent cut in its defense budget, Britain will remain strong.

"The United Kingdom after this defense review will remain the most powerful European NATO partner in terms of military force," added Chalmers. "It will continue to spend more than other Europeans. And not least, the UK's willingness to get in there and to get engaged in operations with the United States, when we believe it is in our interests to do so, will continue to be very strong. And I think that is evidenced in Afghanistan."

Prime Minister Cameron says Britain will keep its independent nuclear deterrent⁹, although it will delay building new nuclear submarines and extend the life of existing ones. He says the goal is to build a military force that is more mobile, more flexible and better equipped to meet future challenges.
 

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 slashing   

adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Slashing is the first process in which liquid treatment is involved. 浆纱是液处理的第一过程。 来自辞典例句
• He stopped slashing his horse. 他住了手，不去鞭打他的马了。 来自辞典例句

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 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。

5 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

6 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

9 deterrent   

n.阻碍物，制止物；adj.威慑的，遏制的

参考例句：

• Large fines act as a deterrent to motorists.高额罚款是对开车的人的制约。
• I put a net over my strawberries as a deterrent to the birds.我在草莓上罩了网，免得鸟歇上去。