ble. "With all due respect" is a set expression used to show respect when you still disagree with what has just been said. "To brush aside" a person or group is to physically remove them without much effort. Our hopes for recalling the 843rd bomber wing are quickly being reduce to a low order of probability. This is Turgidson’s complicated way of saying that it is becoming unlikely that the planes can be recalled. They are going to go absolutely ape and strike back with everything they got. In this case, "to go ape" is a very slangy way of saying to become extremely angry. "To strike back" is to hit back after being attacked. If prior to this time, we have done nothing further to suppress their retaliatory capabilities, we will suffer virtual annihilation. "Prior to" means before. "To suppress" something is to greatly weaken or destroy it. "Retaliatory capability" is the ability to strike back after being attacked. "Virtual annihilation" is almost total destruction. If we were to immediately launch an all out and coordinated attack on their airfields and missile bases… "To launch" an attack is to begin it (To launch a missile is to send it into space). An "all out" attack is a complete and powerful one, and if it is "coordinated," it is well organized by all important leaders. ...we’d stand a damn good chance of catching them with their pants down! "To stand a damn good chance" of doing something is to have a good possibility of being able to do it. "To catch a person with their pants down" is a very slangy way of saying to catch them completely unprepared. Hell, we’ve got 5 to 1 missile superiority as it is...and we’d still have a very effective reserve force for any other contingency. In this case, a "reserve force" is a military force that can be used after the first attack has been launched. A "contingency" is any possible event that could realistically happen. We would therefore prevail and suffer only modest civilian casualties from their remaining force, which would be badly damaged and uncoordinated. "To prevail" is to survive, and for General Turgidson, "modest civilian casualties" is only a few million killed (as opposed to tens of millions!). General, it is the avowed policy of our country never to strike first with nuclear weapons. An "avowed policy" is a clearly stated and well known principle. General Ripper has already invalidated that policy! "To invalidate" a policy is to break it or to declare it no longer in force. We are rapidly approaching a moment of truth...between two regrettable but nevertheless distinguishable postwar environments. If two things are "distinguishable," their differences can easily be seen or understood. You’re talking about mass murder, not war! :: Mr. President, I’m not saying we wouldn’t get our hai
责任编辑:yechenglu
