2007年VOA标准英语-British Lawmakers Approve Blair's Nuclear Defen

By Tom Rivers
London
14 March 2007

British legislators Wednesday approved British Prime Minister Tony Blair's plan to replace the country's fleet of nuclear submarines. The 409 to 161 vote followed a heated debate in parliament. For VOA News, Tom Rivers in London reports.

Britain's current nuclear deterrent² consists of four Vanguard submarines, each capable of carrying up to 16 nuclear missiles. Britain's Defense³ Ministry⁴ says that fleet will become obsolete⁵ by 2024.

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Tony Blair, 14 Mar 2007

Prime Minister Tony Blair has pushed the issue of the country's future nuclear arsenal⁶ onto the political agenda by proposing the country should start planning now for replacement⁷ to meet possible threats from rogue⁸ regimes.

"I think that is essential for our security in an uncertain world and I believe that it is important that we recognize that although it is impossible to predict the future, the one thing as I said in my statement that is certain, is the unpredictability of it and for that reason I think that it is sensible that we take this decision today," he said.

Critics, including many in Mr. Blair's own ruling Labor⁹ Party, say with the end of the Cold War there should be no place for nuclear weapons in Britain's arsenal. They contend an upgrade of Britain's current nuclear weapons system would actually send the world the wrong signal.

Mr. Blair disagrees.

"I think what is possible is for us to continue to play our full part under the Non-Proliferation Treaty in the multilateral negotiations¹⁰ that I hope will take place over the years to come so that the world becomes a safer place with fewer nuclear weapons," he said. "But that is something that I think that we are best able to achieve if we maintain our nuclear deterrent."

Among those against upgrading Britain's nuclear weapons are many who say the decision does not have to come right now. They point out that Mr. Blair will be out of office in the next few months, and gauging¹¹ whether to hold nuclear weapons might better be assessed in a few years.

But Mr. Blair told the House of Commons preparations for the rearmament program must begin now.

"I entirely¹² understand why people may want to put off this decision but the fact is that if we want to get parliamentary approval for the work that has to begin now on the concept and design phase of this - of course the actual contracts for the design and construction are let at a later time - but it is today that we need to take the decision for the concept and design stage of this and if we want to get proper parliamentary authorization¹³ for this, this decision has to be taken now," he said.

The British government estimates the new submarines and the upgraded nuclear missiles would cost at least $40 billion.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 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。

3 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。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 obsolete   

adj.已废弃的，过时的

参考例句：

• These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
• They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。

6 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。

7 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

8 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

9 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

10 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

11 gauging   

n.测量[试]，测定，计量v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的现在分词 )；估计；计量；划分

参考例句：

• The method is especially attractive for gauging natural streams. 该方法对于测量天然的流注具有特殊的吸引力。 来自辞典例句
• Incommunicative as he was, some time elapsed before I had an opportunity of gauging his mind. 由于他不爱说话，我过了一些时候才有机会探测他的心灵。 来自辞典例句

12 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

13 authorization   

n.授权，委任状

参考例句：

• Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
• You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。