AS IT IS 2016-03-21 US Military Weakened When Spread Too Thin

AS IT IS 2016-03-21 US Military Weakened When Spread Too Thin

A United States military leader says he is concerned about the ability of the U.S. to wage conventional war against countries like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

U.S. Army Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, told American lawmakers that focus in the Middle East has spread military resources thin. 

The general told Congressmen if a conflict took place somewhere other than the Middle East, preparing for battle would be a challenge.

“If that [a conflict] were to happen, I would have grave concerns about the readiness of our force to deal with that in a timely manner,” Milley said.

The concern about readiness comes while tensions heighten on the Korean peninsula. North Korea conducted a nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch in February.

The U.S. has moved more troops into Asia. South Korean and American troops are conducting joint-military exercises.

North Korea calls the exercises rehearsals¹ for invading the north.

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has threatened to launch nuclear missiles against South Korea and the United States.

Even with American forces widely divided, the U.S. and South Korea combine to have superior conventional forces in the region, according to the website Global Power.

There are close to 28,500 American troops in South Korea. America has maintained a military presence in South Korea for more than 60 years.

Words in This Story

conventional war – n. the waging of war in a manner which does not use nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.

conflict – n. a struggle for power

tensions – n. a state in which people, groups or countries disagree with and feel anger toward each other

launch – v. sending or shooting - something, such as a rocket - into the air or water

peninsula – n. a piece of land that is almost entirely² surrounded by water and is attached to a larger land area

rehearsals – n. events at which a person or group practice an activity

superior – adj. high or higher in quality

1 rehearsals   

n.练习( rehearsal的名词复数 )；排练；复述；重复

参考例句：

• The earlier protests had just been dress rehearsals for full-scale revolution. 早期的抗议仅仅是大革命开始前的预演。
• She worked like a demon all through rehearsals. 她每次排演时始终精力过人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。