CNN 2010-02-17

GRIFFIN: Then there is the story of this woman, a girlfriend now wife of an Air Marshal who complained to the Department of Homeland Security she was followed, photographed, and investigated by the Air Marshals, all because she says her then-boyfriend had a workman's comp claim.

MEGAN, WIFE OF FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL: The American safety is being put, you know, on the back burner, because we are 40 miles away from the airport investigating private citizens.

GRIFFIN: Despite repeated requests, the Federal Air Marshal service and TSA declined to give CNN an interview. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee believes the Air Marshals program put together hastily after 9/11 now needs to be reinvented.

REP. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE (D), TEXAS: If we got those kinds of problems, we need to get a ready broom and sweep it out. The only way we're going to insure the security and safety of the American people is that we have staff PAR¹ excellence², and I know they're out there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: The Air Marshals, themselves, do say their agency is dysfunctional. It is not performing the security job that it should, and along with this growing chorus demanding a change in management of the Federal Air Marshal Service, Kyra, quite frankly³ there's a growing chorus asking whether this agency needs to exist at all.
 

1 par   

n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的

参考例句：

• Sales of nylon have been below par in recent years.近年来尼龙织品的销售额一直不及以往。
• I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。

2 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

3 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。