2007年VOA标准英语-9/11 Panel Chairmen Say US Safer, But 'Not Safe

By Cindy Saine
Washington
11 September 2007

The two chairmen of the independent September 11 Commission, Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton, told reporters in Washington Tuesday the United States is safer today than it was six years ago when it was attacked by al-Qaida. But the former governor and the former congressman¹ also agree the nation is not safe enough, and say that U.S. foreign policy has actually lost ground in its efforts to stem the tide of extremism in the Muslim world. VOA's Cindy Saine reports from Washington.

 

Thomas Kean (File photo)

The two chairmen of the the commission that studied the lessons of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in the United States got together again to assess if the United States is safer now. Former Governor of New Jersey² Thomas Kean says he believes U.S. defenses are better.

"We have made progress at home in our ability to detect, prevent and respond to terrorist attacks," said Kean. "It has been difficult, incomplete and it's been very slow, but real progress has been made."

Kean says the federal government has implemented³ many of the recommendations made by the 9/11 panel to prevent future attacks. He said the National Counterterrorism Center is forcing greater sharing of intelligence and that the Central Intelligence Agency's collection and analysis of intelligence is improving. The terrorist screening center checks the manifest of every international flight entering the U.S., he said, and airport screeners are better trained today.

But Kean said he and former congressman Lee Hamilton are not pleased with the government's performance on the international front.

"Six years after 9/11, the National Intelligence Estimate speaks of a persistent⁴ and evolving terrorist threat to the United States," he said. "Inside Pakistan, al-Qaida has protected or regenerated⁵ key elements of its homeland attack capacity."

Kean and Hamilton say Pakistan should take the lead in rooting out al-Qaida, but the U.S. must act if Pakistan will not.

Lee Hamilton (file photo)

They also blame U.S. foreign policy for undermining support for America in the Muslim world. Hamilton cites Iraq as a negative example.

"I do think we agree that Iraq has been a powerful recruiting tool for terrorists, and therefore has a much longer term fuse to it than might otherwise be the case," said Hamilton.

Hamilton said the terrorists now being trained in Iraq will turn their sights on other targets long after the conflict there has been resolved.

Speaking ahead of the September 11 anniversary, White House aide Frances Townsend gave the United States a more positive report card. She said the government has made considerable progress in protecting against terrorist attacks and that the country is safer now than it was in 2001.

1 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

2 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

3 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

4 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

5 regenerated   

v.新生，再生( regenerate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They are regarded as being enveloped in regenerated gneisses. 它们被认为包围在再生的片麻岩之中。 来自辞典例句
• The party soon regenerated under her leadership. 该党在她的领导下很快焕然一新。 来自辞典例句