VOA标准英语2008年-Gates Says Iran's Missile Test Does Not Make Wa

U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Robert Gates says Wednesday's Iranian missile tests provide further evidence of the need for a European missile defense system, but he says the tests do not make military confrontation² with Iran any more likely. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.
　
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, 09 Jul 2008

Secretary Gates indicated that the Iranian test demonstrated enhanced capability³ for the country's Shahab Three missile, but he said he could not provide details. Previous versions of the missile are believed to have a range of about 2,000 kilometers, enough to reach from western Iran to the western shore of the Black Sea.

Secretary Gates says the test provides evidence to support the U.S. view that Europe needs a system to defend against Iranian missiles.

"This certainly addresses the doubts raised by the Russians that the Iranians won't have a longer range ballistic missile for 10 to 20 years," said Robert Gates. "The fact is they just tested a missile that has a pretty extended range. So, my view, in the first instance, is we've been saying, as we've talked about missile defense in Europe, that there is a real threat. And it seems to me that the test this morning underscores that."
　
An Iranian Shahab 3 missile rises into the air after being test-fired at an undisclosed location in the Iranian desert, 09 Jul 2008

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Czech counterpart signed an agreement to place an anti-missile radar⁴ installation in the Czech Republic. Talks with Poland for an anti-missile launch site appear to have hit a new snag, but a Pentagon official says "rather intense discussions" are continuing and "good progress" is being made.

Iran's missile tests were accompanied by sharp rhetoric⁵. The chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the country's missile arsenal⁶ is ready to be fired at "any time, quickly and with accuracy," and that "enemy targets are under surveillance. On Tuesday, another Iranian official said Israel and U.S. warships⁷ in the Persian Gulf⁸ would be targeted if Iran is attacked.

Asked whether those statements and Wednesday's missile tests make a military confrontation with Iran more likely, Secretary Gates said he does not think so.

"There is a lot of signaling going on," he said. "But I think everybody recognizes what the consequences of any kind of a conflict would be. And I will tell you that this government is working hard to make sure that the diplomatic and economic approach to dealing⁹ with Iran, and trying to get the Iranian government to change its policies is the strategy and is the approach that continues to dominate."

The concern about Iran's missiles is intensified¹⁰ by its effort to develop nuclear weapons, an effort the United Nations Security Council members and Germany are trying to convince Iranian leaders to abandon.

 

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 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

3 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

4 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

5 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

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 warships   

军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只

参考例句：

• The enemy warships were disengaged from the battle after suffering heavy casualties. 在遭受惨重伤亡后，敌舰退出了海战。
• The government fitted out warships and sailors for them. 政府给他们配备了战舰和水手。

8 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

9 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

10 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》