2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Administration Officials Say al-Qaida Rema

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
10 September 2007

Six years after the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, Bush administration officials say Islamic extremist groups, and al-Qaida in particular, continue to pose a threat to the United States. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill, where the officials testified before a Senate panel.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff (l) and Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell (r) testifies on post-9/11 terrorist threat to the U.S., 10 Sep 2007

Director of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, in an appearance before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, offered a sober appraisal¹ of the threat posed by radical² Islamic groups.

"They are still intent on carrying out attacks on the United States, preferably in the homeland, and if not, against American interests elsewhere," he said. "I think they are looking both to develop operatives who can launch from overseas, and they are also hoping to radicalize those within this country."

Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell says al-Qaida has regained³ a significant level of its capability⁴, despite U.S. efforts to crack down on the terrorist network.

"The fact that they have sanctuary⁵ in that tribal⁶ area between Afghanistan and Pakistan has allowed them to adapt and morph [evolve] with sanctuary and committed leadership, they have rebuilt the middle tier," said McConnell. "What they do not have is vast numbers of recruits to carry out the acts they would like to perpetrate."

McConnell says al-Qaida has made gains in connecting radical groups - particularly across North Africa into the Middle East.

"There are extremists in virtually any country - what al-Qaida has been successful in doing is linking them," said McConnell. "So if you start in Northern Africa, in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, all the way across, there are groups affiliated⁷ with and some even changing their names to be al-Qaida. It almost takes on the connotation of a franchise⁸."

The testimony⁹ came just days after al-Qaida leader Osama bin¹⁰ Laden¹¹ appeared in a videotape to mark the six years since the terrorist strikes on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. National Intelligence Director McConnell says the tape is being analyzed¹², but so far, he does not believe bin Laden was sending a specific message to followers¹³.

"So far, we do not think this is a signal," said McConnell. "He has done this periodically."

militant14 Web site where al-Qaida's media arm, Al-Sahab, frequently posts messages, 06 Sep 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070914/1046021.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Image taken from a banner advertisement featured on an Islamic militant Web site where al-Qaida's media arm, Al-Sahab, frequently posts messages, 06 Sep 2007

McConnell says bin Laden's darker-looking beard has attracted particular notice among intelligence analysts¹⁵.

"The big question in the community is, is that beard real? Because, as you know, a few years ago, the last time he appeared, it was very different. So we do not know if it was dyed or trimmed or real, but that is what we are looking at," he said.

McConnell says the hunt for Osama bin Laden, and his Deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri, remain top priorities for the United States, and significant resources are being spent on the search.

Federal Bureau of Investigation¹⁶ Director Robert Mueller told the Senate panel his agency is working to counter efforts by radical groups to recruit followers in the United States.

"We do have individuals in the United States who adhere to that ideology¹⁷, that extremist ideology, and we work with our counterparts to make certain we identify [them], and after identification, we determine to what extent there are other participants here or overseas, and work to disrupt those plots," said Mueller.

The chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, said he is particularly concerned about that issue.

"There are people right here in America who have swallowed the jihadist ideology and are prepared to kill innocent Americans," he said.

FBI Director Mueller says his agency is working with the Muslim-American community develop ways to address the radicalization issue.

National Intelligence Director McConnell says intelligence agencies have improved the way they conduct intelligence by reforming and streamlining their organizational structure, sharing information and strengthening analysis.

He called on Congress to make permanent revisions in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to allow the federal government greater authority to intercept¹⁸ phone calls and e-mails of suspected terrorists overseas and people in the United States. Congress last month agreed to allow the revisions for six months, and will revisit the issue when they expire.

1 appraisal   

n.对…作出的评价；评价，鉴定，评估

参考例句：

• What's your appraisal of the situation?你对局势是如何评估的？
• We need to make a proper appraisal of his work.对于他的工作我们需要做出适当的评价。

2 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

3 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。

4 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

5 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

6 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

7 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。

8 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

9 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

10 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

11 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

12 analyzed   

v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析

参考例句：

• The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The young man did not analyze the process of his captivation and enrapturement, for love to him was a mystery and could not be analyzed. 这年轻人没有分析自己蛊惑著迷的过程，因为对他来说，爱是个不可分析的迷。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

14 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

15 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

16 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。

17 ideology   

n.意识形态，(政治或社会的)思想意识

参考例句：

• The ideology has great influence in the world.这种思想体系在世界上有很大的影响。
• The ideal is to strike a medium between ideology and inspiration.我的理想是在意识思想和灵感鼓动之间找到一个折衷。

18 intercept   

vt.拦截，截住，截击

参考例句：

• His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
• Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。