2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Names New Intelligence Chief

By Scott Stearns
White House
05 January 2007

U.S. President George Bush has nominated a new director of national intelligence as he continues to shake-up senior staff with a new deputy secretary of state. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

President Bush wants the current intelligence chief, John Negroponte, to move to the State Department while putting retired¹ vice² admiral Mike McConnell atop the nation's intelligence community.

Both moves require confirmation³ from the Senate led by the opposition⁴ Democratic Party.

 
President Bush, left, looks on as John Negroponte speaks after being introduced by the president as his nominee⁵ for deputy secretary of state
The changes come less than a week before the president says he will announce a new way forward in the war in Iraq. Negroponte has served as the U.S. ambassador to Baghdad and the United Nations. President Bush says he will play a key role in shaping American foreign policy.

"John Negroponte's broad experience, sound judgment⁶, and expertise⁷ on Iraq and in the war on terror make him a superb choice as deputy secretary of state, and I look forward to working with him in this new post," said Mr. Bush.

The move returns Negroponte to the State Department where he began his career as a junior foreign service officer in 1960. If confirmed, he says he looks forward to supporting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as she leads thousands of Americans and foreign nationals at more than 270 posts abroad.

"Whether in Baghdad, Kabul, Kosovo, or elsewhere these dedicated⁸ professionals are on the front line of advancing America's commitment to freedom," he said.

Negroponte served less than 2 years as the first director of national intelligence (DNI), a position created following the terrorist attacks of 2001 to better integrate America's 16 civilian⁹ and military intelligence communities.

 
Mike McConnell makes remarks as he is introduced by President Bush in the Roosevelt Room of the White House

President Bush wants to replace him with a Navy veteran who is a former director of the National Security Agency and the top intelligence officer to the Joint¹⁰ Chiefs of Staff.

"The vigilance of the DNI helps keep the American people safe from harm," he said. "Admiral Mike McConnell has the experience, the intellect, and the character to succeed in this position."

McConnell has worked the last ten years in the private sector¹¹ as a security consultant¹²; something he says will help him serve those in government who depend on sound intelligence.

"I understand these people rely on timely and useful intelligence everyday," he said.  "After spending most of my adult life in the intelligence community focused on getting the right information to the right decision maker¹⁴ in the right time and format¹³, I'm excited about returning."

It is the latest in a series of changes for the president following his dismissal of Defense¹⁵ Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who was widely criticized for the conduct of the war in Iraq.

1 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。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

6 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

7 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

8 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

9 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

10 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。

11 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

12 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

13 format   

n.设计，版式；[计算机]格式，DOS命令:格式化(磁盘)，用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据；v.使格式化，设计，安排

参考例句：

• Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
• The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。

14 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

15 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。