voa标准英语2008年-Bush Administration 'Disappointed' by Russian M

The Bush administration is repeating its disappointment with Russia's stated intention to deploy¹ missiles near Poland if the United States goes ahead with a planned missile defense² system in Poland and the Czech Republic. As VOA's Michael Bowman reports, the back-and-forth between Moscow and Washington has sparked questions about whether Russia is asserting itself to send a tough message to President-elect Barack Obama.

Russia has long objected to U.S. plans to base a missile defense system in Eastern European nations that once formed part of the Soviet³ bloc⁴. Wednesday, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev said Russia will deploy short-range missiles near Poland to combat what he termed "the relentless⁵ expansion of NATO" and the testing of Russian strength.
　

White House Spokeswoman Dana Perino, 23 Oct 2008

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino says the move is regrettable and unnecessary.

"We have long said that the missile defense program is not aimed at Russia, and the sites in the Czech Republic and Poland pose no threat to Russia from our perspective," she said. "We have tried to work with the Russians to explain that to them. We have offered to work with their teams on the technology pieces. We find the [Russian] action yesterday disappointing."

The comments mirror similar statements from both the State Department and the Pentagon.

The United States insists the missile shield is defensive⁶ in nature, designed to intercept⁷ ballistic missiles that could be fired from the Middle East. Russia remains⁸ incredulous, however, saying the system could neutralize⁹ Russia's nuclear deterrent¹⁰.
　

A launcher of short-range Iskander missile during a rehearsal11 for the Victory Day military parade in downtown Moscow, 29 Apr 2008

Mr. Medvedev said Russia will deploy Iskander missiles to its western enclave of Kaliningrad, a slice of territory that sits between Poland and Lithuania. The Iskander's normal range would allow it to strike within Poland, but not the Czech Republic. Unless modified, the missiles carry conventional warheads.

The Kremlin says Mr. Medvedev has congratulated U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, and that the Russian leader wants to maintain a constructive¹² dialogue with the United States on the basis of trust.

At the White House, spokeswoman Perino was asked if the timing¹³ of Mr. Medvedev's missile announcement - one day after the Obama electoral victory - should be seen as a Russian attempt to intimidate¹⁴ America's president-elect or to improve Russia's bargaining position with the next U.S. administration.

"One thing I cannot do is divine [guess] what the Russians are thinking," she said. "Our reaction to the [Medvedev] statement yesterday is that it was disappointing."

In addition to discussing the missile issue, Mr. Medvedev said Russia has no intention to "retreat" from the Caucuses¹⁵ - a region that was once part of the Soviet Union and in recent years has seen several areas try to gain independence from Moscow.

1 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

2 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。

3 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

4 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

5 relentless   

adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的

参考例句：

• The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
• Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。

6 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

7 intercept   

vt.拦截，截住，截击

参考例句：

• His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
• Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。

8 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

9 neutralize   

v.使失效、抵消，使中和

参考例句：

• Nothing could neutralize its good effects.没有什么能抵消它所产生的好影响。
• Acids neutralize alkalis and vice versa.酸能使碱中和碱，亦能使酸中和。

10 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。

11 rehearsal   

n.排练，排演；练习

参考例句：

• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
• You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。

12 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

13 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

14 intimidate   

vt.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• You think you can intimidate people into doing what you want?你以为你可以威胁别人做任何事？
• The first strike capacity is intended mainly to intimidate adversary.第一次攻击的武力主要是用来吓阻敌方的。

15 caucuses   

n.（政党决定政策或推举竞选人的）核心成员( caucus的名词复数 )；决策干部；决策委员会；秘密会议

参考例句：

• Republican caucuses will happen in about 410 towns across Maine. 共和党团会议选举将在缅因州的约410个城镇进行。 来自互联网