2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Says al-Qaida Remains a Threat but Weaker

By Scott Stearns
White House
12 July 2007

U.S. intelligence officials say al-Qaida is gaining strength from bases in the remote tribal¹ areas of western Pakistan.  VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, President Bush says the terrorist group remains² a threat, but is weaker than it was before the 2001 attacks in New York and Washington.

A new threat assessment³ by the National Counterterrorism Center says al-Qaida has rebuilt much of its organization, despite six years of U.S. attacks.

The report, entitled "Al-Qaida Better Positioned to Strike the West" says the terrorist group is considerably⁴ weaker than it was before the September 11, 2001 attacks, but is stronger than it has been in years, largely due to to safe havens⁵ in western Pakistan.

President Bush talks to reporters during a press conference, 12 Jul 2007

U.S. officials trace that resurgence⁶ to last year's deal by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to withdraw army units from the area in exchange for promises from tribal leaders that they would prevent the Taleban and al-Qaida from training and sending terrorists across the border into Afghanistan.

Asked about the new threat assessment at a White House press conference, President Bush dismissed news reports that the terrorist group is now as strong as it was before September 11, but said there is no question al-Qaida is still a danger.

"Because of the actions we have taken, al-Qaida is weaker today than they would have been," he said.  "They are still a threat.  They are still dangerous.  And that is why it is important that we succeed in Afghanistan and Iraq and anywhere else we find them."

Michael Chertoff

The new threat assessment comes as Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff this week said he has a gut⁷ feeling that America faces an increased chance of terrorist attack during the next few months.

The White House says there is no credible⁸, specific intelligence to suggest an imminent⁹ threat.  President Bush says when there is a credible threat he will share it with the American people.

1 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

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 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

5 havens   

n.港口，安全地方( haven的名词复数 )v.港口，安全地方( haven的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Your twenty havens would back out at the last minute anyhow. 你那二十个避难所到了最后一分钟也要不认帐。 来自辞典例句
• Using offshore havens to avoid taxes and investor protections. 使用海面的港口避免税和投资者保护。 来自互联网

6 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。

7 gut   

n.[pl.]胆量；内脏；adj.本能的；vt.取出内脏

参考例句：

• It is not always necessary to gut the fish prior to freezing.冷冻鱼之前并不总是需要先把内脏掏空。
• My immediate gut feeling was to refuse.我本能的直接反应是拒绝。

8 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

9 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。