VOA慢速英语--北约军事指挥官称正视俄罗斯的军事威胁

AS IT IS 2016-03-04 Russia Seen As Threat to US, Says General 北约军事指挥官称正视俄罗斯的军事威胁

Russia is sending troops to several regions and sees the U.S. and NATO as long-term threats, said NATO’s military commander Tuesday.

U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove spoke¹ to a panel of the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C.

He said Russia has used its military against neighbors to gain regional influence.

“Russia has used military force to violate the sovereignty and the territorial² integrity of Ukraine, Georgia and others, like Moldova,” the general told the committee. 

Breedlove said Russia has kept Ukraine from moving closer to the West.

Breedlove noted³ one of Russia’s objectives is to hurt the relationship between the U.S. and its NATO allies.

The Air Force general added that Russia’s military influence has spread from the Black Sea to the eastern Mediterranean⁴ Sea and western Syria.

“Russia seeks to re-establish a leading role on the world stage. … Russia sees the U.S. and NATO as threats to its objectives and as constraints⁵ on its aspirations⁷. Russia recognizes strength and sees weakness as an opportunity,” Breedlove told the Senate committee.

Breedlove said Russia has done little to counter the Islamic State militant⁸ group in Syria. Russia started air strikes against rebel positions in Syria in September 2015, according to multiple media sources.

Words in This Story

NATO – n. short for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; a group of countries that have agreed to provide military support to each other.

sovereignty – n. a country's independent authority and the right to govern itself

objective – n. something you are trying to do or achieve : a goal or purpose

aspiration⁶ – n. something that a person or group wants very much to achieve

1 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。

2 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

3 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。

4 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

5 constraints   

强制( constraint的名词复数 )； 限制； 约束

参考例句：

• Data and constraints can easily be changed to test theories. 信息库中的数据和限制条件可以轻易地改变以检验假设。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• What are the constraints that each of these imply for any design? 这每种产品的要求和约束对于设计意味着什么？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

6 aspiration   

n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出

参考例句：

• Man's aspiration should be as lofty as the stars.人的志气应当象天上的星星那么高。
• Young Addison had a strong aspiration to be an inventor.年幼的爱迪生渴望成为一名发明家。

7 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。

8 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。