voa标准英语2008-Bush Says US Military Stronger Than Eight Years-英语课

时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2008年(十二月)

英语课

U.S. President George Bush says America's military is stronger and better prepared to confront threats than it was before he took office. Speaking Tuesday at West Point military academy, President Bush outlined the defense 1 policies he administered during the last eight years.
　

President George W. Bush addresses cadets in Eisenhower Hall at the US Military Academy in West Point, New York, 09 Dec 2008

President Bush says throughout the period the U.S. military has undergone a transformation 2 for a new kind of war the country is facing now and will continue to face in the future.

President Bush, who leaves office January 20, spoke 3 to the cadets for his last time as commander-in-chief.

Mr. Bush has presided over two long-running wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in during his eight years in office he said the country has changed its approach to national security. The president said dramatic changes were made in both the military's strategy and the military itself.

"We resolved that we would not wait to be attacked again, and so we went on the offense 4 against the terrorists overseas so we never had to face them here at home," he said.

The president said his administration made it clear that governments that sponsored terror are as guilty as the terrorists, and this doctrine 5 was applied 6 in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He added that the only way to defeat terrorism in the long run is to present an alternative to their ideology 7.

"We are doing the tough work of helping 8 democratic societies emerge as examples for people all across the Middle East, pressing nations around the world, including our friends, to trust their people with greater freedom of speech, worship, and assembly," said Mr. Bush.

The president said the country has also made significant reductions in the U.S. nuclear arsenal 9, which he says will be at its lowest level since the Eisenhower administration.

But he said it is important that the country continues to develop the capabilities 10 to fight enemies around the world.

"We must stay on the offensive. We must be determined 11 and we must be relentless 12 to do our duty to protect the American people from harm," President Bush said.

Mr. Bush said the United States must continue to transform the armed forces so the next generation inherits a military capable of advancing the cause of peace.

1 defense

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

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 transformation

n.变化；改造；转变

Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

3 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