VOA标准英语2009年-Obama: US Making 'Real Progress' in Terror

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
06 October 2009

 
President Obama speaks at National Counterterrorism Center, 6 Oct 2009
U.S. President Barack Obama says America is making real progress in the fight against al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. Members of the intelligence community deserve the nation's thanks.

The president went to a place where all the counterterrorism intelligence obtained by the U.S. government comes together, the National Counterterrorism Center.

It is here, in a complex just outside Washington, that analysts¹ synthesize information obtained by the 16 federal intelligence agencies, as well as local and state law enforcement.

Usually, the analysts at the center work in obscurity. But the president went there to shine a spotlight² on their work, and its impact on America's national security. "I want every American to know about the difference you've made, especially in recent months and days. Because of you, and all the organizations you represent, we're making real progress in our core mission: to disrupt, dismantle³ and defeat al-Qaida and other extremists' networks around the world," he said.

President Obama noted⁴ he is a regular consumer of the center's work, a reference to the intelligence briefings he receives on an almost daily basis.

In recent months, those briefings have provided him with information from the Counterterrorism Center on the activities of a suspected terrorist in Colorado, Najibullah Zazi. "You watched for signs. You stitched together the intelligence. You worked together, across organizations as a team. And then - arrests in Denver and New York, and still more in Illinois and Texas, have made us safer," he said.

This was the president's first visit to the National Counterterrorism Center, which was launched after the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. At the time, there was concern that the anti-terrorism work of the various intelligence and law enforcement agencies in the U.S. was too fragmented. The idea behind the center was to coordinate⁵ and streamline⁶ the flow of information to decision-makers, and better protect the public.

President Obama said the experiment has worked. "You are showing us what focused and integrated counterterrorism really looks like. And the record of your service is written in the attacks that never occur because you thwarted⁷ them, and in the countless⁸ Americans who are alive today because you saved them," he said.

The president said no one can promise there will never be another attack on American soil. But he said he can promise that he will provide the center with all the resources it needs to protect lives around the world and at home.

1 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。

2 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

3 dismantle   

vt.拆开，拆卸；废除，取消

参考例句：

• He asked for immediate help from the United States to dismantle the warheads.他请求美国立即提供援助，拆除这批弹头。
• The mower firmly refused to mow,so I decided to dismantle it.修完后割草机还是纹丝不动，于是，我决定把它拆开。

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 coordinate   

adj.同等的，协调的；n.同等者；vt.协作，协调

参考例句：

• You must coordinate what you said with what you did.你必须使你的言行一致。
• Maybe we can coordinate the relation of them.或许我们可以调和他们之间的关系。

6 streamline   

vt.使成流线型；使简化；使现代化

参考例句：

• We must streamline our methods.我们必须简化方法。
• Any liquid or gas passing it will have streamline flow.任何通过它的液体或气体将呈流线型的流动。

7 thwarted   

阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过

参考例句：

• The guards thwarted his attempt to escape from prison. 警卫阻扰了他越狱的企图。
• Our plans for a picnic were thwarted by the rain. 我们的野餐计划因雨受挫。

8 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。