VOA慢速英语2015 新的恐怖威胁是社会媒体

AS IT IS 2015-05-13 Latest Terror Threat Is on Social Media 新的恐怖威胁是社会媒体

A top Obama administration official says the fight against terrorism has entered what he calls a new phase. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson spoke¹ to ABC News on Sunday. He said groups like the self-declared Islamic State are successfully using social media to interest new members or to launch attacks in the United States.

His comments followed reports that federal law enforcement officials have launched hundreds of investigations³ to identify likely terrorists nationwide.

Mr. Johnson says the terrorist threat has changed because of the successful use of social media by the Islamic State. He says the group has shown the ability to reach out and recruit members in the United States.

“Because of the use of the Internet, we could have little, or no, notice in advance of an independent actor (attacker) attempting to strike. And so that’s why law enforcement at the local level needs to be ever more vigilant⁴, and we’re constantly reminding them to do that.”

Mr. Johnson says federal, state and local law enforcement officials are cooperating more closely now than they were before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Last week, the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation² warned there might be thousands of Islamic State followers⁵ online in the United States. FBI Director James Comey said it is not easy to know who among them is a threat.

Earlier this month, two gunmen attacked what has been called a ‘free speech’ event in Garland, Texas. The event’s organizers offered a $10,000 prize for the best cartoon of Islam’s Prophet Mohammad. For Muslims, any image of the Prophet is considered disrespectful.

The gunmen were killed in an exchange of gunfire with police. Mr. Comey said the FBI had warned the Garland police to watch for the two men hours before the attack.

Secretary Johnson says federal officials are fighting social media recruitment efforts by talking to members of the Muslim community in the United States.

“Since I’ve been secretary, I have personally participated in engagements with community leaders in the Islamic community and elsewhere. I’ve been to New York, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles and other places where I personally meet with community leaders about countering violent extremism in their communities.  That has to be part of our efforts in this new phase.”

Mr. Johnson admits the Islamic State seems to be effective in its communications. He says Muslim communities must help federal, state and local officials fight the recruiting efforts.

“It has to come from Islamic leaders who, frankly⁶, can talk the language better than the federal government can and so, when I meet with community leaders, Islamic leaders, it’s one of the things we urge them to do. Some have begun it. We’ve seen some good progress, but there’s a lot more than can be done.”

Mr. Johnson supported the decision by U.S. military officials to increase security at bases across the country. The FBI had warned that Islamist militants⁷ could attack troops or local police.

Michael McCaul is the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. He told Fox News on Sunday there had been an increase in threats against local police and military bases in the US.

“We’re seeing these on an almost daily basis. It’s very concerning.  I’m over here with the French counter-terrorism experts on the Charlie Hebdo case (trying to learn) how we can stop foreign fighters coming out of Iraq and Syria to Europe. But then, we have this phenomenon in the United States where they (terrorists) can be activated⁸ by the Internet. And, really, terrorism has gone viral.”

Representative McCaul says the possible threat from terrorism is worse than the FBI has said it is. He says the United States faces two threats: one from fighters leaving the Middle East, and the other from thousands across the country who will attack when the Islamic State sends a message on the Internet. He warns that threats from the terrorists will increase because of the many failed states in the Middle East and North Africa. 

Words in This Story

phase – n. period; a step in a process

recruit – v. to persuade someone to join you; getting people to join an organization; to add members to a group

vigilant – adj. to be watchful⁹ or on guard

cartoon – n. a picture or image said to make fun of someone

engagement(s) – n. an event or meeting

counter(ing) – v. do(ing) something in answer to, or in defense¹⁰ of, something else

frankly – adj. honestly

phenomenon – n. an important event or fact

gone viral – expression to become popular or widespread very quickly

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

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 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

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 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

6 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

7 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

8 activated   

adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The canister is filled with activated charcoal.蒸气回收罐中充满了活性炭。

9 watchful   

adj.注意的，警惕的

参考例句：

• The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
• It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。

10 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。