2006年VOA标准英语-US Accuses Seven Florida Men of Plotting Terror

By Jim Malone
Washington
23 June 2006

U.S. officials have arrested seven men in connection with what Bush administration officials say was a homegrown terrorist plot that targeted buildings in Miami and Chicago.

 
Alberto Gonzales, front right, with Deputy FBI Director John Pistole, during news conference, June 23, 2006  
  
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told a news conference that the seven men allegedly involved in the terrorism plot had wanted the help of al-Qaida to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago and government buildings in the Miami area.

"These individuals wished to wage a 'full ground war against the United States.'  That quote is from the investigation² of these individuals, who also allegedly stated the desire to 'kill all the devils we can.'  They hoped for their attacks to be'just as good or greater than 9/11,'" he said.

Gonzales says government agents were tipped off that the alleged¹ terrorists wanted help from al-Qaida.  So, a government informer posing as an al-Qaida operative met with the group and ffered to help.

A metal door is seen after authorities used a blowtorch to enter a warehouse³ where FBI made seven arrests   
  
"Those steps included seeking out uniforms and weapons, conducting reconnaissance and taking bayat, the oath of allegiance to al-Qaida," he noted⁴.  "We know this because an individual they thought was a member of al-Qaida was present at their meetings.  In actuality, he was working with the South Florida Joint⁵ Terrorism Task Force."

Gonzales described the alleged plot as an example of homegrown terrorism.  The seven men were indicted⁶ by a federal grand jury on four separate conspiracy⁷ counts that accuse them of seeking to conspire⁸ with al-Qaida, to provide material support to terrorists and to wage war against the United States.

Five of the accused men are American citizens.  One is a legal resident from Haiti and the seventh is an illegal immigrant from Haiti. 

Attorney General Gonzales says the men were inspired by what he called a violent jihadist message.

A man in Miami who says he knows some of the suspects told the Cable News Network that they were not terrorists, but belonged to a religious group, called the Seas of David that studied the Christian⁹ Bible.

Attorney General Gonzales says the seven accused never went beyond the earliest planning stages for the alleged attacks in Chicago and Miami.  He also says they had not yet acquired weapons or explosives, nor had they ever made contact with al-Qaida.

 
The Sears Tower
  
One of the alleged targets, the Sears Tower office building in Chicago, is the tallest building in the United States and the third tallest in the world.

The U.S. Attorney for South Florida, Alex Acosta, said authorities chose to act quickly, once they found out about the alleged plot.

"Our mission, all of our missions here, is to identify and disrupt these cells before they acquire, if at all possible, the capability¹⁰ to implement¹¹ their plan," he said.

Most of the accused made court appearances Friday, and will enter pleas at a later date.  If convicted on the conspiracy counts, they could face lengthy prison terms

1 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

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 warehouse   

n.仓库；vt.存入仓库

参考例句：

• We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。
• The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

4 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。

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 indicted   

控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The senator was indicted for murder. 那位参议员被控犯谋杀罪。
• He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder. 他被大陪审团以两项谋杀罪名起诉。

7 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

8 conspire   

v.密谋，（事件等）巧合，共同导致

参考例句：

• They'd conspired to overthrow the government.他们曾经密谋推翻政府。
• History and geography have conspired to bring Greece to a moment of decision.历史和地理因素共同将希腊推至作出抉择的紧要关头。

9 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

10 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。

11 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。