VOA标准英语2010-Analysts Divided Over New US Nuclear Weap

US President Barack Obama (L) shake hands with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev (R) after signing 'New START' treaty reducing long-range nuclear weapons at Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic 08 Apr 2010

The United States announced this week a new strategic policy for its nuclear weapons that puts unprecedented¹ emphasis on the nuclear threat from terrorists and rogue² states, as opposed to traditional nuclear powers like Russia and China. Some analysts³ see the new policy as an important step in meeting the changing international situation. But critics call the move reckless and irresponsible.

The Nuclear Posture⁴ Review - the third since the end of the Cold War - limits the circumstances under which the United States would use nuclear weapons, with a long-term goal of achieving a nuclear-free world.

The Obama administration's new policy is a major departure from previous nuclear strategy. It seeks to defend the United States and its allies against terrorist organizations, which it sees as greater threats than countries like Russia and China that have large, decades old nuclear arsenals⁶.

Defense⁷ Sec. Robert Gates (C), Sec. of State Hillary Clinton (R), Chairman of the Joint⁸ Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen (L) speak about nuclear arms at the Pentagon, 06 Apr 2010

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates unveiled the new strategy at the Pentagon, saying it is driven by the changing nature of the security environment facing the United States.

"The review rightly places the prevention of nuclear terrorism and proliferation at the top of the U.S. nuclear policy agenda," said Gates. "Given al-Qaida's continued quest for nuclear weapons, Iran's ongoing⁹ nuclear efforts and North Korea's [nuclear and missile] proliferation, this focus is appropriate and, indeed, essential - an essential change from previous reviews."

Although the new policy is designed to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in America's security strategy, U.S. officials say it will not adversely¹⁰ affect the nation's ability to protect itself or its allies.

"For generations, the United States' nuclear deterrent¹² has helped prevent proliferation by providing our non-nuclear allies in NATO, the Pacific, and elsewhere with reassurance¹³ and security. The policies outlined in this review allow us to continue that stabilizing¹⁴ role," said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In a controversial move, the United States for the first time says it will not use atomic weapons against nonnuclear states that are in compliance¹⁵ with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, even if such countries attack the U.S. with biological or chemical weapons.

There is no such commitment for countries like Iran and North Korea, which the United States says have violated non-proliferation obligations, pursed missile development and defied the directives of the United Nations Security Council.

Tom Collina, Research Director for the Washington-based Arms Control Association, says the new policy is a positive step that will give countries an incentive¹⁶ to refrain from developing nuclear weapons.

"The point of this document is to build support among other nations in the world to help the United States in its campaign to stop weapons programs in North Korea and Iran," said Collina.

Other analysts are concerned the new strategy could have the opposite effect.

Matthew Bunn is a nuclear security and nonproliferation specialist at Harvard University.

"For hard-liners in Pyongyang or hard-liners in Tehran who want nuclear weapons, they now have a new argument," said Bunn. They can say, 'Look, the United States is almost explicitly¹⁷ saying that we are on their target list, so we should have nuclear weapons in order to deter¹¹ any attack on us.' So that, I think, is an unfortunate addition to the ammunition¹⁸ of pro-nuclear weapons advocates in Pyongyang and Tehran," he said.

The new strategy states that America's atomic arsenal⁵ is poorly suited to address the challenges "posed by suicidal terrorists and unfriendly regimes seeking nuclear weapons."

Still, the United States will maintain its nuclear triad of intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-capable aircraft and submarines.

Under the new strategy, the Obama administration will not develop new nuclear warheads or new capabilities¹⁹ for nuclear weapons - a move critics say will weaken the country's defense.

Frank Gaffney is President of the Center for Security Policy here in Washington.

""If the American people actually understand what is afoot, they will be horrified," he said. "I think the American people are going to be mad as hell at anybody who attacks this country with chemical or biological weapons and they are going to be very mad at any president of the United States that says, 'Oh we are not going to punish those who might do that in a way that, who knows, might have contributed to dissuading²⁰ them from doing it in the first place.' This is reckless. This is irresponsible," Gaffney said.

Next week, the leaders of 47 countries are scheduled to visit Washington to discuss improvements in securing nuclear materials.

An international conference on strengthening the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is scheduled for May at the United Nations.
 

1 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

2 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。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

5 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。

6 arsenals   

n.兵工厂，军火库( arsenal的名词复数 )；任何事物的集成

参考例句：

• We possess-each of us-nuclear arsenals capable of annihilating humanity. 我们两国都拥有能够毁灭全人类的核武库。 来自辞典例句
• Arsenals are factories that produce weapons. 军工厂是生产武器的工厂。 来自互联网

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。

8 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

9 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。

10 adversely   

ad.有害地

参考例句：

• We commented adversely upon the imbecility of that message of telegraphic style. 我们对着这条电报式的愚蠢的留言发泄了一通不满。
• Widely fluctuating exchange rates may adversely affect international trade. 浮动幅度很大的汇率可能会对国际贸易产生有害的影响。

11 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

12 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。

13 reassurance   

n.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• He drew reassurance from the enthusiastic applause.热烈的掌声使他获得了信心。
• Reassurance is especially critical when it comes to military activities.消除疑虑在军事活动方面尤为关键。

14 stabilizing   

n.稳定化处理[退火]v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The disulfide bridges might then be viewed primarily as stabilizing components. 二硫桥可以被看作是初级的稳定因素。 来自辞典例句
• These stabilizing design changes are usually not desirable for steady-state operation. 这些增加稳定性的设计改变通常不太符合稳态工作的要求。 来自辞典例句

15 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

16 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

17 explicitly   

ad.明确地，显然地

参考例句：

• The plan does not explicitly endorse the private ownership of land. 该计划没有明确地支持土地私有制。
• SARA amended section 113 to provide explicitly for a right to contribution. 《最高基金修正与再授权法案》修正了第123条，清楚地规定了分配权。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

18 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

19 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

20 dissuading   

劝（某人）勿做某事，劝阻( dissuade的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• If he has once fastened upon an idea,there is no dissuading him from it. 他一旦认准一个主意，就不可能让他放弃。