2007年VOA标准英语-USS Nimitz Provides Military, Diplomatic Suppor

By Nazzy Belgari and Saman Arbabi
Arabian Sea
18 May 2007
 

USS Nimitz

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz recently arrived in the Arabian Sea to support coalition¹ forces fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.  As one of two U.S. carriers in the region, it is a powerful symbol of America's military power and its ability to project air power anywhere in the world. VOA's Nazzy Belgari and Saman Arbabi were among the first journalists onboard the massive warship² after its arrival in the region. They had a chance to see firsthand how this "floating city" operates inside and out. Jim Bertel narrates³.         

Flight operations on the USS Nimitz. Its four catapults on the flight deck hurl⁴ the ship's 90 aircraft into combat day and night. Within days of arriving on station in the Middle East the ship was launching missions to support ground troops in Afghanistan.

"Tonight we'll be in support of the guys that are actually going over the beach. So, no, it is not an exercise – it's a mission," one pilot told us.

The USS Nimitz is one of the largest warships⁵ in the world, stretching more than 330 meters in length and housing over 5,000 sailors and airmen.

It is often described as a floating city, with its own hospital, barber shops, post office and cafeterias that serve nearly 20,000 meals a day. And men are not the only ones on board.

"I do communications; my title is WISO, weapons systems officer,” said one female sailor.

But its number one purpose is launching warplanes into combat. Admiral John Terence Blake is the Commander of the Carrier Strike Group. “Our mission is two-fold. Our mission is security and stability," he said.

That mission doesn't always mean military action. Sometimes just the presence of a super carrier can persuade nations to resolve issues diplomatically. Senior administration officials concede that was part of the thinking when President Bush ordered a second carrier into the Gulf⁶ region late last year, saying it was part of an effort to gain some negotiating leverage⁷ over Iran. The U.S. and Iran have been at odds⁸ for months over Iran's nuclear aspirations⁹.

Blake was asked about the U.S. strategy on Iran. "I would say that if you look at what our government and, in particular, what our State Department is doing, is we are working with the international community to resolve diplomatically the issues we currently have with Iran,” said the admiral. “And we are working through them. The idea is to solve the issues that are currently on the table from a diplomatic perspective."

While diplomacy¹⁰ continues, the crewmembers are hard at work, putting in long days to be ready for any mission they are called on to perform.

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 warship   

n.军舰，战舰

参考例句：

• He is serving on a warship in the Pacific.他在太平洋海域的一艘军舰上服役。
• The warship was making towards the pier.军舰正驶向码头。

3 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

4 hurl   

vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂

参考例句：

• The best cure for unhappiness is to hurl yourself into your work.医治愁苦的最好办法就是全身心地投入工作。
• To hurl abuse is no way to fight.谩骂决不是战斗。

5 warships   

军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只

参考例句：

• The enemy warships were disengaged from the battle after suffering heavy casualties. 在遭受惨重伤亡后，敌舰退出了海战。
• The government fitted out warships and sailors for them. 政府给他们配备了战舰和水手。

6 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

7 leverage   

n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量

参考例句：

• We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
• He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

8 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

9 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

10 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。