2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Defends CIA Nominee, Domestic Eavesdr

By Michael Bowman
White House
13 May 2006
 

George W. Bush (file photo)  
  
President Bush has defended his choice to head the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as controversial domestic eavesdropping¹ efforts designed to prevent terrorist attacks.

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In his weekly radio address Saturday, Mr. Bush said General Michael Hayden is eminently² qualified³ to lead the CIA, an agency he described as essential to the security of the American people.

 
General Michael Hayden 
  
"For the last year, he's been our Nation's first deputy director of national intelligence, and has played a critical role in our efforts to reform America's intelligence capabilities⁴ to meet the threats of a new century," said Mr. Bush. "He has more than 20 years of experience in the intelligence field. He served for six years as director of the National Security Agency and has a track record of success in leading and transforming that large intelligence agency."

Mr. Bush, who left the White House Friday for the Camp David presidential retreat, nominated Hayden to replace outgoing CIA Director Porter Goss earlier this week. Hayden is expected to face sharp questions at his Senate confirmation⁵ hearing following reports about the federal government's domestic spying activities in pursuit of suspected terrorists.

More questions arose Thursday when a U.S. newspaper, USA Today, reported that the National Security Agency has obtained millions of telephone records from major U.S. telephone companies. General Hayden headed the NSA when the agency is alleged⁶ to have initiated⁷ the program in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

The White House has neither confirmed nor denied that such a program exists. But, in his radio address, President Bush once again defended the NSA's practice of eavesdropping on conversations involving suspected terrorists at home and abroad.

"Americans expect their government to do everything in its power under our laws and Constitution to protect them and their civil liberties. That is exactly what we are doing," he said. "And so far, we have been successful in preventing another attack on our soil."

Mr. Bush said the intelligence activities he has authorized⁸ are lawful⁹, and that Americans' privacy is "fiercely protected." A recent public opinion survey shows a majority of Americans approve of the government obtaining domestic telephone records to track down terrorists.

In the Democratic Party response to the president's radio address, a Florida lawmaker said a federal program championed by President Bush to help retirees afford prescription¹⁰ medication is confusing to many senior citizens.

State Senator Ron Klein urged an extension of the Monday deadline to sign up for the program, saying that numerous retirees need more time to sift¹¹ through the enrollment¹² details.

The Bush administration estimates the program will save senior citizens an average of more than $1,000 a year on prescription drugs. Klein, who is running for a seat in the U.S. Congress this year, described the program as a financial giveaway to the pharmaceutical¹³ industry.

1 eavesdropping   

n. 偷听

参考例句：

• We caught him eavesdropping outside the window. 我们撞见他正在窗外偷听。
• Suddenly the kids,who had been eavesdropping,flew into the room. 突然间，一直在偷听的孩子们飞进屋来。

2 eminently   

adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地

参考例句：

• She seems eminently suitable for the job. 她看来非常适合这个工作。
• It was an eminently respectable boarding school. 这是所非常好的寄宿学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

4 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

5 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

6 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

7 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

8 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

9 lawful   

adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的

参考例句：

• It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
• We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。

10 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

11 sift   

v.筛撒，纷落，详察

参考例句：

• Sift out the wheat from the chaff.把小麦的壳筛出来。
• Sift sugar on top of the cake.在蛋糕上面撒上糖。

12 enrollment   

n.注册或登记的人数；登记

参考例句：

• You will be given a reading list at enrollment.注册时你会收到一份阅读书目。
• I just got the enrollment notice from Fudan University.我刚刚接到复旦大学的入学通知书。

13 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。