NEWS-美国国会力改反恐监督机制

US Congress Urged to Reorganize Anti-Terrorist Oversight¹

 

The United States has taken major steps to protect itself from terrorism in the three and one-half years since the September 11, 2001 attacks.  Policy makers² and experts are urging the Bush administration and the Congress to do more.

 

In the wake of the 2001 attacks, Congress set up the Department of Homeland Security, which merged³ the functions of 22 different government agencies into one coordinated⁵ effort.

 

In addition, lawmakers also took the advice of the independent 9/11 Commission and established the post of National Intelligence Director and set up a counter-terrorism center to coordinate⁴ intelligence gathering⁶ and analysis. Although they may seem like bureaucratic⁷ changes, 9/11 Commission Co-Chairman and former Congressman⁸ Lee Hamilton (an Indiana Democrat) says the reforms have been crucial in keeping the country safe.

 

Lee Hamilton: And we are not dealing⁹ here with just moving boxes around and a complicated structure in the Congress or a complicated structure in the executive branch. We are dealing here with the safety and the security of the American people and how best to protect them. So we think there is an urgency here.

 

Some experts worry that the momentum¹⁰ for reform is slowing as the memory of the 9/11 attacks begins to fade.  Ed Meese served as attorney general during the Reagan administration and now writes about homeland security challenges at the Heritage Foundation in Washington.

 

Ed Meese: 9/11 changed a lot of things in this country. Three and one-half years later I would say that most people have forgotten 9/11 in terms of any urgency and immediacy of doing something important.

 

Policy makers and security experts say their main concern at the moment is that Congress has not adequately reorganized itself to deal with the terrorist threat. They note that more than 80 congressional committees and subcommittees continue to have some form of oversight or review of aspects of homeland security.

 

Lee Hamilton says the time has come for Congress to simplify and strengthen its oversight capabilities¹¹ to keep pace with the new government agencies created to keep the country safe.

 

"Now when you make powerful institutions in the executive branch, it is very important that you check and balance that power,"　he explained.  "And now, I think more than ever, as these powerful institutions have been created in the executive branch, we need in the Congress an effective counter-balance, if you will."

 

Analysts¹² say partisan¹³ politics is one reason why Congress has been slow to embrace the reform proposals from the 9/11 Commission.

 

Thomas Mann, who closely monitors U.S. politics at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said" The sad fact is that today's political environment is not conducive¹⁴ to the kind of behavior we would like to see in Congress," Non-governmental groups also continue to pressure the administration and Congress to do more to improve homeland security. Among them are organizations representing victims' families from the 9/11 attacks.

 

Mary Fetchet lost her son Brad in the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York.  She is the founding director of a group called Voices of September 11th.

 

Mary Fetchet: And I know my life is in jeopardy¹⁵. I know my family's life is in jeopardy today as we speak. So, I feel that it is almost a moral obligation in the memory of my son to be sure that his brother does not find himself in a similar circumstance.

 

9/11 Commission Lee Hamilton says it is true that more reforms are needed.  But he also says the changes that have occurred since September 11 are significant.

 

Lee Hamilton: Look, we have gone over three years without an attack here at home, three and one-half years I guess now. And that is no small accomplishment¹⁶.  Was that because we were so smart or lucky? I do not know, maybe both. But it is something and it is a significant achievement. So we have made some progress here.

 

Former Attorney General Ed Meese also considers the reforms a strong start.  But he predicts the full overhaul¹⁷ of the country's homeland security system could take another 10 years.

 

Jim Malone, VOA News, Washington

 

1 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

2 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 merged   

（使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中

参考例句：

• Turf wars are inevitable when two departments are merged. 两个部门合并时总免不了争争权限。
• The small shops were merged into a large market. 那些小商店合并成为一个大商场。

4 coordinate   

adj.同等的，协调的；n.同等者；vt.协作，协调

参考例句：

• You must coordinate what you said with what you did.你必须使你的言行一致。
• Maybe we can coordinate the relation of them.或许我们可以调和他们之间的关系。

5 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

6 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

7 bureaucratic   

adj.官僚的，繁文缛节的

参考例句：

• The sweat of labour washed away his bureaucratic airs.劳动的汗水冲掉了他身上的官气。
• In this company you have to go through complex bureaucratic procedures just to get a new pencil.在这个公司里即使是领一支新铅笔，也必须通过繁琐的手续。

8 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

9 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

10 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

11 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

12 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

13 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

14 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

15 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。

16 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

17 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。