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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 defense 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, modernize 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 skeptical 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 relic, to allow for the establishment of a missile shield. Europeans view the pact as a 10)cornerstone of arms control and favor 11)retaining it.
While acknowledging that its proposal to scrap 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
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