2007年VOA标准英语-FBI Chief Faces Tough Questions from Congress a

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
27 March 2007

The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation² is vowing³ reforms in the wake of an internal report that revealed the agency abused its powers in obtaining personal information during investigations⁴ of suspected terrorists.  Robert Mueller made his comments to skeptical⁵ lawmakers Tuesday, as VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

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FBI Director Robert Mueller testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington 27 Mar 2007

FBI Director Mueller faced tough questions from both Democrats⁶ and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee over a government inspector⁷ general's report concluding that the agency misused⁸ documents known as national security letters to obtain private information about people without getting prior approval from a judge.

Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania is the top Republican on the committee:

"The question emerging is whether the FBI is up to the enormous task that we have asked it to perform," he said.  " Every time we turn around, there is another serious failure on the part of the bureau."

Specter proposed that Congress consider establishing a separate domestic intelligence agency like Britain's MI-5.

The national security letters are used to obtain telephone, e-mail and financial records in terrorism investigations.  Controls over how the letters are used were eased under the Patriot⁹ Act, passed by Congress after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States to strengthen the government's ability to pursue terrorists.

In light of the inspector general's report, the Judiciary Committee chairman, Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, said the time has come to consider whether Congress granted the government too much power.

"We are going to be reexamining the broad authorities we have granted the FBI under the Patriot Act," he said.

But FBI Director Mueller urged lawmakers not to amend¹⁰ the law.

"It would handcuff us and inhibit¹¹ us from doing the kind of investigation necessary to thwart¹² terrorist attacks," he said.

Mueller said he has begun to correct the problems with the way the agency collects personal data and has ordered an audit¹³ to determine whether any agents should be disciplined.

At a House of Representatives hearing last week, lawmakers warned the FBI that it could lose its expanded surveillance authority if the agency fails to correct its mistakes.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 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。

3 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

4 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

5 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

6 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

8 misused   

v.使用…不当( misuse的过去式和过去分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用

参考例句：

• He misused his dog shamefully. 他可耻地虐待自己的狗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had grossly misused his power. 他严重滥用职权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 patriot   

n.爱国者，爱国主义者

参考例句：

• He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
• He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。

10 amend   

vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿

参考例句：

• The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
• You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。

11 inhibit   

vt.阻止，妨碍，抑制

参考例句：

• Don't let ego and greed inhibit clear thinking and hard work.不要让自我和贪婪妨碍清晰的思维和刻苦的工作。
• They passed a law to inhibit people from parking in the street.他们通过一项法令以阻止人们在街上停车。

12 thwart   

v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的)

参考例句：

• We must thwart his malevolent schemes.我们决不能让他的恶毒阴谋得逞。
• I don't think that will thwart our purposes.我认为那不会使我们的目的受到挫折。

13 audit   

v.审计；查帐；核对；旁听

参考例句：

• Each year they audit our accounts and certify them as being true and fair.他们每年对我们进行账务审核，以确保其真实无误。
• As usual,the yearly audit will take place in December.跟往常一样，年度审计将在十二月份进行。