VOA标准英语2009年-French General Takes Over Senior NATO Job

For the first time in NATO history, one of the alliance's supreme¹ commanders is from a country other than the United States. Air Force general Stephane Abrial of France has taken over the job of Supreme Allied² Commander Transformation³ for NATO.
　
Stephane Abrial (r) with outgoing NATO commander Gen. James Mattisstand during ceremony aboard 'Dwight D. Eisenhower' aircraft carrier, in Norfolk, Va.

French general Stephane Abrial takes over as supreme allied commander in Norfolk, Virginia, in the United States, just months after President Nicolas Sarkozy of France announced his country would rejoin the NATO military command more than 40 years after leaving it.

At a NATO summit in Strasbourg, France, earlier this year, Mr. Sarkozy discussed France's return and assured fellow leaders that France was part of the same NATO family. Everyone can count on France, he said - and France knows it can count on its NATO allies.

The Norfolk position is one of two top command posts promised to France when it rejoined the alliance. Another Frenchman now heads a NATO command in Lisbon. General Abrial takes over the Virginia post from U.S. marine⁴ general James Mattis. The French general is the first non-US commander assuming a top NATO command in the alliance's history.

NATO's new head Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called the changeover a significant milestone⁵ for NATO. And NATO expert Jean Sylvestre Mongrenier says it reflects a shift to a more balanced distribution of power between Europe and the United States.

Mongrenier told French radio that having a European as top NATO military head indicates a real trans-Atlantic multilateralism - but he said it means Europe must carry its share of responsibility. The US has been pressing European allies to send more troops to Afghanistan. And Mongrenier noted⁶ that European defense⁷ budgets overall are declining.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

3 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。

4 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

5 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 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。