voa标准英语2008-Bush Says US Military Stronger Than Eight Years

U.S. President George Bush says America's military is stronger and better prepared to confront threats than it was before he took office. Speaking Tuesday at West Point military academy, President Bush outlined the defense¹ policies he administered during the last eight years.
　

President George W. Bush addresses cadets in Eisenhower Hall at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York, 09 Dec 2008

President Bush says throughout the period the U.S. military has undergone a transformation² for a new kind of war the country is facing now and will continue to face in the future.

President Bush, who leaves office January 20, spoke³ to the cadets for his last time as commander-in-chief.

Mr. Bush has presided over two long-running wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in during his eight years in office he said the country has changed its approach to national security. The president said dramatic changes were made in both the military's strategy and the military itself.

"We resolved that we would not wait to be attacked again, and so we went on the offense⁴ against the terrorists overseas so we never had to face them here at home," he said.

The president said his administration made it clear that governments that sponsored terror are as guilty as the terrorists, and this doctrine⁵ was applied⁶ in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He added that the only way to defeat terrorism in the long run is to present an alternative to their ideology⁷.

"We are doing the tough work of helping⁸ democratic societies emerge as examples for people all across the Middle East, pressing nations around the world, including our friends, to trust their people with greater freedom of speech, worship, and assembly," said Mr. Bush.

The president said the country has also made significant reductions in the U.S. nuclear arsenal⁹, which he says will be at its lowest level since the Eisenhower administration.

But he said it is important that the country continues to develop the capabilities¹⁰ to fight enemies around the world.

"We must stay on the offensive. We must be determined¹¹ and we must be relentless¹² to do our duty to protect the American people from harm," President Bush said.

Mr. Bush said the United States must continue to transform the armed forces so the next generation inherits a military capable of advancing the cause of peace.

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 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

5 doctrine   

n.教义；主义；学说

参考例句：

• He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
• The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

6 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

7 ideology   

n.意识形态，(政治或社会的)思想意识

参考例句：

• The ideology has great influence in the world.这种思想体系在世界上有很大的影响。
• The ideal is to strike a medium between ideology and inspiration.我的理想是在意识思想和灵感鼓动之间找到一个折衷。

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

9 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。

10 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

11 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

12 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。