In short, there is a reasonable case in defence of Mr Brown. If only he had made it earlier.
简单的说，如果这件事早些达成的话，对于布朗首相，这将是一个合理的辩护。
2
The increase will, however, be only short-lived since defence - like every other department - will feel the squeeze from the spending restraint deemed necessary to reduce the budget deficit.
但是这个增长是短命的，因为国防部——和其他各部一样——感受到必须撙节费用以降低预算赤字的压力。
3
When Gordon Brown and his team say that they are planning increases in defence spending, they are right - but only for the short term.