2006年VOA标准英语-Terror Suspects in Miami; Disclosure of Secret

By Peter Fedynsky
Washington, D.C.
26 June 2006
 
watch Terrorism report

U.S. government officials say the arrest of seven suspected terrorists in Miami, Florida represents a step forward in the war against terror.  But as VOA's Peter Fedynsky reports, U.S. officials say media disclosure of a secret banking¹ surveillance program is a step in the wrong direction.

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The Sears Tower is the tallest building in North America   
  
Law enforcement officials say the arrests were made after a U.S. government informant posing as a member of al-Qaida infiltrated² a group of seven suspected terrorists.  Their arrest disrupted an alleged³ plot, still in an early stage, to bomb several federal buildings in Miami and also America's tallest building, the Sears tower in Chicago.

The indictment⁴ alleges⁵ one of the suspects wanted to "wage a full ground war against the United States and to kill all the devils we can." 
 
 
Alberto Gonzales, front right, with Deputy FBI Director John Pistole, during news conference, June 23, 2006
  
U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says the suspects -- five of them U.S. citizens -- represent a new brand of homegrown terrorism made possible by a convergence of globalization and technology.

"Today, terrorist threats may come from smaller, more loosely-defined cells who are not affiliated⁶ with al-Qaida, but who are inspired by a violent jihadist message,” said the Attorney General. “And left unchecked, these homegrown terrorists may prove to be as dangerous as groups like Al Qaida."

Gonzales says recent terrorist attacks in Madrid and London as well as the arrest of terror suspects in Toronto demonstrate the challenges posed by homegrown terrorists who live in the area that they intend to attack.

In Chicago, workers at the Sears Tower expressed moderate concern about being possible targets.

"I think it's definitely going to raise some eyebrows⁷, but I don't think that people are going to stop going about their daily routine," said one office worker.

"We've grown so numb⁸ to this because it happens every single day. It's in the news constantly, the war in Iraq, so you kind of become numb. Because of the whole situation [it] doesn't really scare you anymore, because if it did scare you, you really wouldn't leave the house," said another.

"They're a bunch of jerks and if we let it bother us, they've won," added a third Chicago resident.

Treasury⁹ Secretary John Snow  
  
In another development, Treasury Secretary John Snow criticized several major American newspapers for disclosing the existence of a secret U.S. government program, which sifts¹⁰ global banking data to track terrorist money transfers.  The newspaper articles say the administration did not seek individual subpoenas¹¹ for the information. Snow says Congress was informed of the program and that it did not violate privacy rights.

"By following the money, we've been able to locate operatives, we've been able to locate their financiers, we've been able to chart terrorist networks, and we've been able to bring the terrorists to justice,” said Secretary Snow.  “And by doing this, of course, we saved lives."

Secretary Snow says disclosure of the program could jeopardize¹² a valuable tool against terrorism.  Critics are concerned that government possession of banking data opens the door to possible violations of American civil liberties

1 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

2 infiltrated   

adj.[医]浸润的v.（使）渗透，（指思想）渗入人的心中( infiltrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The headquarters had been infiltrated by enemy spies. 总部混入了敌方特务。
• Many Chinese idioms have infiltrated into the Japanese language. 许多中国成语浸透到日语中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 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

4 indictment   

n.起诉；诉状

参考例句：

• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
• They issued an indictment against them.他们起诉了他们。

5 alleges   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The newspaper article alleges that the mayor is corrupt. 报纸上断言该市长腐败。
• Steven was tardy this morning and alleges that his bus was late. 史提芬今天早上迟到的说词是公车误点了。

6 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。

7 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

8 numb   

adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木

参考例句：

• His fingers were numb with cold.他的手冻得发麻。
• Numb with cold,we urged the weary horses forward.我们冻得发僵，催着疲惫的马继续往前走。

9 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

10 sifts   

v.筛( sift的第三人称单数 )；筛滤；细查；详审

参考例句：

• He sifts you to free you from your husks. 他将你们筛选，使你们摆脱麸糠。 来自互联网
• The sunshine sifts through the cloud. 阳光透过云层照射下来。 来自互联网

11 subpoenas   

n.（传唤出庭的）传票( subpoena的名词复数 )v.（用传票）传唤（某人）( subpoena的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• My company has complied with committee subpoenas by supplying documents confirming all that I have said. 本公司按照委员会的要求，提供了能够证实我刚才发言的文件。 来自辞典例句
• Congressional Investigations: Subpoenas and Contempt Power. Report for Congress April 2, 2003. 金灿荣：《美国国会的监督功能》，载《教学与研究》2003年第2期。 来自互联网

12 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。