VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Unveils New Approach to Missile Defe

By VOA News
17 September 2009

President Obama's statement
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US President Barack Obama delivers statement regarding missile defense¹ at White House in Washington, 17 Sep 2009 
U.S. President Barack Obama is dropping plans for a missile defense system with interceptors in Poland and a radar² facility in the Czech Republic. It is a dramatic reversal of a Bush administration policy that created deep tensions with Russia.

President Obama says he is scrapping³ the Bush administration's proposal, and replacing it with a plan that is more flexible and effective.

"The best way to responsibly advance our security and the security of our allies is to deploy⁴ a missile defense system that best responds to the threats that we face and that utilizes⁵ technology that is both proven and cost effective," President Obama said.

He says his decision was guided in large part by new intelligence that shows Iran is focusing on the development of medium and short-range missiles. The original missile defense policy was based on the assumption that Tehran was seeking a long-range capability⁶.

"This new ballistic missile defense program will best address the threat posed by Iran's ongoing⁷ ballistic missile defense program," the president said.

Mr. Obama says the change in policy was also prompted by advances in technology, including improvements in land and sea-based interceptors and the sensors⁸ that support them.

He says these improved systems will be gradually deployed⁹, starting in about 2011.  Under his plan the large centralized radar facility proposed for the Czech Republic will not be needed, nor will the earlier generation of ground-based interceptors planned for Poland.

"To put it simply: our new missile defense architecture in Europe will provide stronger, smarter and swifter defenses of American forces and America's allies," he said.

President Obama made the announcement at the White House after first informing the leaders of Poland and the Czech Republic. He said the decision to drop the old missile defense plan in no way lessens¹⁰ America's commitment to their security.

The policy shift is sure to be on the agenda next week when Mr. Obama is likely to meet, at either the United Nations or the Group of 20 economic summit, with Russian President Dmitiri Medvedev.

Plans for a missile defense system in parts of the former Soviet¹¹ bloc¹² have been an irritant between Washington and Moscow. And in making the announcement, President Obama said once again the American drive for a missile shield has never had anything to do with Russia.

"Our clear and consistent focus has been the threat posed by Iran's ballistic missile program and that continues to be our focus and the basis of the program that we are announcing today," President Obama said.

Republican leaders in the U.S. Congress were quick to criticize President Obama's decision. In a written statement, the top Republican in the House of Representatives, John Boehner of Ohio, accused the White House of empowering Russia at the expense of America's European allies.  

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 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。

3 scrapping   

刮，切除坯体余泥

参考例句：

• He was always scrapping at school. 他在学校总打架。
• These two dogs are always scrapping. 这两条狗总是打架。

4 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

5 utilizes   

v.利用，使用( utilize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• One highly successful approach utilizes a triplet aspheric lens array. 一种很成功的方法是利用一个三合非球面透镜阵列。 来自辞典例句
• The first utilizes a blend of finely ground ceramic powders. 第一种用的是一种磨细的陶瓷粉末混合物。 来自辞典例句

6 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。

7 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

8 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

9 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

10 lessens   

变少( lessen的第三人称单数 )； 减少（某事物）

参考例句：

• Eating a good diet significantly lessens the risk of heart disease. 良好的饮食习惯能大大减少患心脏病的机率。
• Alcohol lessens resistance to diseases. 含有酒精的饮料会减弱对疾病的抵抗力。

11 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

12 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。