2006年VOA标准英语-Negroponte: Classified Document on Iraq War Dis

By Ken¹ Schwartz
Washington
26 September 2006

John Negroponte

U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte says news reports of a document which says the war in Iraq has spawned² a new generation of Islamic terrorists distorts what he calls the broad picture.

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In a Monday night Washington speech, Negroponte said the war in Iraq is a fraction of the entire classified report, called the "National Intelligence Estimate on Trends in Global Terrorism."  He says news reports give people the incorrect impression that the document mostly deals with the relation between Iraq and terrorism.  Negroponte says the United States has made notable successes against what he called the global jihadist threat.

"United States counterterrorism efforts have seriously damaged the leadership of al-Qaida and disrupted its operations," Negroponte says.

The classified report is compiled from the assessment³ of 16 U.S. intelligence agencies. It is the first such report since the war in Iraq began.

Negroponte says the document does not say there is an increased threat against the American homeland. He says he believes it has actually been reduced since the attacks of September 11.

"We are certainly more vigilant⁴.  We're better prepared.  And, in that sense, I can safely say we are safer," Negroponte says.

Negroponte says the White House will seriously consider declassifying⁵ the report.

1 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

2 spawned   

（鱼、蛙等）大量产（卵）( spawn的过去式和过去分词 )； 大量生产

参考例句：

• The band's album spawned a string of hit singles. 这支乐队的专辑繁衍出一连串走红的单曲唱片。
• The computer industry has spawned a lot of new companies. 由于电脑工业的发展，许多新公司纷纷成立。

3 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

4 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

5 declassifying   

v.对（机密文件等）销密( declassify的现在分词 )

参考例句：