NPR 2009-03-28

President Obama announced a comprehensive strategy today for Afghanistan and Pakistan. During an address at the White House, the president said he will increase the number of US troops and civilians¹ as well as funding. NPR's Jackie Northam has more.

The new strategy calls for defeating Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, bringing better security to the country and helping² build civil society there. The president wants to double the number of Afghanistan's army and its police force within three years, and so will send an additional 4,000 US troops to train and advise Afghanistan security forces. Another component³ of the strategy focuses on neighboring Pakistan. A new bipartisan bill would authorize⁴ 1.5 billion dollars in aid to Pakistan every year for the next five years to boost its economy, build democratic institutions and help it to battle Islamist militants⁵. Mr. Obama made it clear that this time the Pakistani government will be held accountable. Jackie Northam, NPR News, Washington.

Nation's top military official acknowledged today the growing Taliban presence in Pakistan along with the expansion of Al-Qaeda poses a rising threat, however, he said it is one the US along with officials in Pakistan are prepared to meet. Speaking with NPR's Robert Siegel today, Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint⁶ Chiefs of Staff also noted⁷ the increased US troop presence will likely lead to more fighting in the region. "We need those troops to stem the trend of violence in Afghanistan and with that it's gonna come an increased level of violence, an increased level of casualties. But what it speaks to is the need to provide security for the Afghan people." Mullen said US strategy for the region will now focus more on Afghan forces in order to ultimately hand over security duties to them, allowing US and NATO troops to eventually return home.

Personal spending in the US rose in February for a second consecutive⁸ month. That's according to the Commerce Department. NPR's John Ydstie reports.

After rising a full one percent in January, consumer's spending rose two tenths of a percent in February. Meanwhile, the savings⁹ rate remained elevated at 4.2% of disposable income. While the elevated savings level might seem a healthy sign in a nation whose savings rate went to zero in recent years, in the current recessionary environment, it is less welcome. That's because the economy needs consumers to spend more now to get it moving again. The two-month rise in consumer spending following six months of decline is a positive sign. However, in the same report the government said personal income fell at a seasonally¹⁰ adjusted rate of two tenths of a percent. That will make it harder for consumers to continue current spending levels. John Ydstie, NPR News, Washington.

A powerful spring storm that dumped more than a foot of snow on parts of Colorado and Wyoming has moved east, leaving behind fog, wind and drifting snow. The storm left upwards¹¹ of 17 inches in the Denver area yesterday with 20 miles an hour wind gust¹² leading to much higher drifts in some spots.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 148 points. This is NPR.

The named suspect in a string of killings¹⁴ in the Phoenix¹⁵ area was handed a death sentence today. Thirty-six-year-old Dale Hausner was convicted earlier this month of killing¹³ six people and attacking 19 others in a series of random¹⁶ shooting incidents that occurred in the city between 2005 and 2006. As the jury decision was announced, Hausner showed no emotion, keeping his head down as he flipped¹⁷ through papers. As he was being left from the courtroom, he thanked the judge who presided over the case. Hausner apologized to families of victims yesterday. He will be sentenced Monday on 74 other convictions.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger along with the state's two US senators joined thousands of people into Oakland California Arena¹⁸ to pay tribute to four police officers gunned down last week. NPR's Carrie Kahn reports.

Mourners filled Oakland’s Oracle¹⁹ Arena and spilled over the viewing areas next-door into the coliseum to pay their respects to the slain²⁰ officers, John Hege, Ervin Romans, Daniel Sakai and Mark Dunakin. The four men's caskets were draped in American flags. Fellow motorcycle patrolman Lieutenant²¹ Anthony Banks remembered his colleague Mark Dunakin as his left-hand man. "Mark rode on my left side. He was dedicated²² and strong, loyal to his family, loyal to the troops of OPD and loyal to his guys and motors." One speaker decried²³ the media for hyping tensions between the community and police. Retired²⁴ Lieutenant Lawrence Eade said Oakland police are committed to its citizens and will rise above the tremendous loss of four officers. Carrie Kahn, NPR News.

Crude oil futures²⁵ prices ended the week lower. The near month contract for benchmark grade crude oil was down $1.96 a barrel to end the week at $52.38 a barrel in New York.

1 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

4 authorize   

v.授权，委任；批准，认可

参考例句：

• He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
• Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。

5 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。

6 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。

7 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。

8 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

9 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

10 seasonally   

参考例句：

• The price of vegetables fluctuates seasonally. 蔬菜的价格随季节变动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They moved seasonally among various vegetation types to feed on plants that were flourishing. 它们还随着季节的变化而在各种类型植物之间迁移，以便吃那些茂盛的植物。 来自辞典例句

11 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

12 gust   

n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发

参考例句：

• A gust of wind blew the front door shut.一阵大风吹来，把前门关上了。
• A gust of happiness swept through her.一股幸福的暖流流遍她的全身。

13 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

14 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

15 phoenix   

n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生

参考例句：

• The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
• The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。

16 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

17 flipped   

轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥

参考例句：

• The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转，撞毁了。
• The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。

18 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

19 oracle   

n.神谕，神谕处，预言

参考例句：

• In times of difficulty,she pray for an oracle to guide her.在困难的时候，她祈祷神谕来指引她。
• It is a kind of oracle that often foretells things most important.它是一种内生性神谕，常常能预言最重要的事情。

20 slain   

杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词)

参考例句：

• The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
• His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。

21 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

22 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。

23 decried   

v.公开反对，谴责( decry的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The measures were decried as useless. 这些措施受到指责，说是不起作用。
• The old poet decried the mediocrity of today's writing. 老诗人抨击了现代文体的平庸无奇。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

24 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。

25 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。