VOA常速英语2016--美国9/11十五周年纪念

美国9/11十五周年纪念

From Lower Manhattan to the Pentagon, a day of remembrance send reminders¹ that the fight against terrorism continues.

"What we face in the context of the global terrorist movement is a long term problem associated with social, economic and political issues across that region and the world, which has created such a widespread radicalization that one group after another has sprung up over the years," said Retired² Marine³ Gen. John Allen on ABC's This Week program.

U.S. officials know the threat has evolved.

“We are safer when it comes to protecting against another 9/11-style terrorist-directed attack from overseas. We are in a new environment, however, where we have to be prepared against and try to prevent lone⁴ wolf-style attacks, the self-radicalized actor,” Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson told ABC.

The administration's critics want a more muscular U.S. posture⁵ on the world stage.

“We're sitting back waiting for the next attack. We should be on offense,” said former New York City mayor Rudi Giuliani.

It's a message Donald Trump⁶ delivers at every rally.

“We will remember those three very famous words: peace through strength. Nobody's going to mess with us,” said Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

But a modicum⁷ of restraint is also required, according to Hillary Clinton.

“You've heard Donald Trump say he would order our troops to torture. You've heard him say he would order troops to kill family members of terrorists. You would know that he is advocating illegal actions against our own laws as well as the laws of war,” said Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

 

While a ferocious⁸ presidential contest exposes rifts⁹ in a bitterly polarized nation, the 9/11 anniversary recalls a time when Americans rallied as one.

从下曼哈顿到五角大楼，美国上上下下进行了一整天的默哀，提醒着人们：反恐之战仍在继续。

“我们在全球恐怖主义运动的背景下所面临的是一个长期性问题，与全球性和地区性的社会、经济、政治问题都有关。这一长期性问题广泛制造了激进化，在过去的这些年中滋生出源源不断的组织”，已退休的马林如是说。美国广播公司《本周新闻》的约翰为您播报。

美国官员知道威胁一直在进行。

“如果是防范9/11这种由海外恐怖分子直接组织的袭击事件，我们相对而言比较有把握。但现在我们是在一个新环境里，需要应对和防范的是单个作案的恐怖袭击，是个人激进化的行为”，美国国土安全部助理约翰逊这样向美国广播公司说道。

美国当局评论家表示，希望美国在世界舞台上能有更强大的姿态。

“我们就坐等下一次袭击。我们一定会完美应对的”，纽约市前市长鲁迪如是说。

这也是美国总统候选人特朗普在每次公开活动中所传达的信息。

“我们会记住这句话：实力换取和平。有了实力，谁也别想在我们眼皮子底下作乱”，共和党总统候选人特朗普如是说。

但还需要一点点克制，希拉里表示道。

“你们一定听到过特朗普说他会命令我们的军队去受折磨，听到过他说会让我们的军队杀掉恐怖分子的亲人。你一定就会知道，他所宣扬的非法行径无论与美国法律还是有关战争的法律都是背道而驰的”，希拉里这样说道。

虽然在总统选举这件事上，美国分裂为二，意见不一，但9/11这个历史性纪念日又让这个国家惊人地统一。

1 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。

2 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

3 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

4 lone   

adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的

参考例句：

• A lone sea gull flew across the sky.一只孤独的海鸥在空中飞过。
• She could see a lone figure on the deserted beach.她在空旷的海滩上能看到一个孤独的身影。

5 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

6 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

7 modicum   

n.少量，一小份

参考例句：

• If he had a modicum of sense,he wouldn't do such a foolish thing.要是他稍有一点理智，他决不会做出如此愚蠢的事来。
• There's not even a modicum of truth in her statement.她说的话没有一点是真的。

8 ferocious   

adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的

参考例句：

• The ferocious winds seemed about to tear the ship to pieces.狂风仿佛要把船撕成碎片似的。
• The ferocious panther is chasing a rabbit.那只凶猛的豹子正追赶一只兔子。

9 rifts   

n.裂缝( rift的名词复数 )；裂隙；分裂；不和

参考例句：

• After that, through the rifts in the inky clouds sparkled redder and yet more luminous particles. 然后在几条墨蓝色云霞的隙缝里闪出几个更红更亮的小片。 来自汉英文学 - 现代散文
• The Destinies mend rifts in time as man etches fate. 当人类想要再次亵渎命运的时候，命运及时修正了这些裂痕。 来自互联网