2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Defends Government Phone Tapping Prog

By Paula Wolfson
White House
01 January 2006

President Bush goes into 2006 with a controversy¹ brewing² over his decision to launch a program that enables the government's National Security Agency to monitor the phone calls and e-mails of people in the United States. Mr. Bush says the program is an essential tool in the war on terrorism.

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George W. Bush 
  

The program applies only to calls or e-mails where someone in the United States is in contact with a person abroad who is believed to have links to al-Qaida. Under presidential order, the requirement for a court warrant in order to conduct a wiretap, in essence, is waived³.

The New York Times newspaper broke the story of the secret monitoring operation in mid-December. Since then, the president has gone to great lengths to vigorously defend the program, saying those who revealed its existence have damaged the national security of the United States.

He spoke⁴ of it again when he met with reporters New Year's Day after a visit with wounded soldiers in his home state of Texas. "We're at war, and as the commander-in-chief I have to use the resources at my disposal within the law to protect the American people," said President Bush, "and that is what we are doing."

But some critics suggest the administration may have stretched the law. They cite the constitutional protection against unreasonable⁵ searches and seizures⁶, and note that even in cases where time is of the essence, a retroactive warrant is an option.

During a brief question and answer session at a military hospital in San Antonio, President Bush was asked about new reports that a senior official at the Justice Department raised serious concerns about the program long before its existence became public. Mr. Bush responded by saying it is an important program that is constantly under review and limited in scope. "The [National Security Agency] program is one that listens to a few numbers called from the outside of the United States in, from known al-Qaida or affiliate⁷ people," he said. "In other words, the enemy is calling somebody, and we need to know who they are calling and why."

Hearings are planned in the U.S. Senate. The top Democrat⁸ on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Charles Schumer of New York, says he wants top administration officials to testify and hopes the White House will cooperate with the investigation⁹.

"I hope the White House won't hide behind saying, 'oh, executive privilege, we can't discuss this'," said Mr. Schumer speaking on the Fox News Sunday television program. "That is the wrong attitude. A discussion, perhaps a change in the law, those are all legitimate¹⁰. Unilaterally changing the law because the vice-president or president thinks it is wrong without discussion or change - that is not the American way."

Mr. Schumer noted¹¹ that the balance between security and liberty is a delicate one, but he added if the president thought there was a problem with existing law governing wiretaps, he should have worked with Congress to come up with a solution.

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 brewing   

n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• It was obvious that a big storm was brewing up. 很显然，一场暴风雨正在酝酿中。
• She set about brewing some herb tea. 她动手泡一些药茶。

3 waived   

v.宣布放弃( waive的过去式和过去分词 )；搁置；推迟；放弃（权利、要求等）

参考例句：

• He has waived all claim to the money. 他放弃了索取这笔钱的权利。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I waived the discourse, and began to talk of my business. 我撇开了这个话题，开始讲我的事情。 来自辞典例句

4 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

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 unreasonable   

adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的

参考例句：

• I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
• They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。

6 seizures   

n.起获( seizure的名词复数 )；没收；充公；起获的赃物

参考例句：

• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year. 今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Other causes of unconsciousness predisposing to aspiration lung abscess are convulsive seizures. 造成吸入性肺脓肿昏迷的其他原因，有惊厥发作。 来自辞典例句

7 affiliate   

vt.使隶(附)属于；n.附属机构，分公司

参考例句：

• Our New York company has an affiliate in Los Angeles.我们的纽约公司在洛杉矶有一个下属企业。
• What is the difference between affiliate and regular membership?固定会员和附属会员之间的区别是什么？

8 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

9 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

10 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。