VOA常速英语2007年-British Leader Unveils New Anti-Terror Measures

By Tom Rivers
London
14 November 2007

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown unveiled measures in parliament designed to increase security in public places.  The plans were drawn¹ up by Security Minister Alan West after reviewing the implications of the London and Glasgow attempted car bombings that took place five months ago.  For VOA, Tom Rivers reports from the British capital.

In a special parliamentary statement, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a new initiative designed to tighten² defenses around hundreds of public buildings in the country.

He says at airports and train stations, more blast barriers will be installed and vehicle access will become even more restricted.

"The report proposes the installation of robust³ physical barriers as protection against vehicle bomb attacks, the nomination⁴ of vehicle exclusion⁵ zones to keep all but authorized⁶ vehicles at a safe distance and making buildings blast resistant," he said.

The recommendations were in a report by Brown's security minister, Alan West, a former head of the British navy who examined the vulnerability of public spaces after London's West End entertainment district and Glasgow airport were targeted in June by car bombers⁷.

Brown says the private sector⁸ as well will also have to increase security in places like shopping centers and nightclubs, but he gave no hint as to how it might be paid for.

"While no major failures in our protective security have been identified, companies that are responsible for crowded places will now be given detailed⁹ and updated advice on how they can improve their resilience against attack both by better physical protection and greater vigilance in identifying suspicious behavior," he added.

Report author West says some old buildings are actually by definition more dangerous to the public, just by the nature of how they were laid out and constructed.

"Particularly some shopping areas, we have actually built into them the shrapnel needed for the explosive to cause mass casualties and we really must not let this happen," he explained.  "We have got to make sure that we think about this early and design that out of these buildings and then it costs no more."

And the vehicle barriers will likely be around for a long time to come.  In his view, West says it will take Britain 30 years to crush terrorism.

And people like security expert Paul Beaver¹⁰ point out there are other threats out there beyond vehicles alone.

"The real concern though is going to be people with bags on their backs who are bombers, the 7-7 bombers back two years ago, the suicide bombers who were carrying knapsacks on their back and that is something that, there will have to be more vigilance about," he noted¹¹.

The prime minister has also announced that Britain will spend more than $830 million abroad on fighting what he calls radicalization.  For instance, Britain proposes to sponsor events in Pakistan to counter extremist propaganda.

1 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

2 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

3 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

4 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

5 exclusion   

n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行

参考例句：

• Don't revise a few topics to the exclusion of all others.不要修改少数论题以致排除所有其他的。
• He plays golf to the exclusion of all other sports.他专打高尔夫球，其他运动一概不参加。

6 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。

7 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

10 beaver   

n.海狸，河狸

参考例句：

• The hat is made of beaver.这顶帽子是海狸毛皮制的。
• A beaver is an animals with big front teeth.海狸是一种长着大门牙的动物。

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。