VOA慢速英语2016--美国面临许多安全挑战

（单词翻译）

AS IT IS 2016-02-13 America Faces Many Security Challenges 美国面临许多安全挑战

Nuclear weapons, terrorism and computer spying are problems for national security, say American intelligence officials.

The officials say challenges and crises are more diverse than ever. 

James Clapper and Lieutenant¹ General Vincent Stewart oversee² national intelligence operations. They spoke³ to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Clapper and Stewart said North Korea could soon have enough plutonium to make nuclear weapons. And North Korea has started to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile system -- missiles that could reach other countries.

The officials said Iran is another country with a developing nuclear weapons program. Iran plans to keep its nuclear program, Clapper said, although it agreed in July to halt it. Economic sanctions put into place by six major nations were lifted when Iran agreed to halt its program.

But Vincent Stewart said the Islamic State terror group is the leading international threat.

Islamic State, he said, "will probably attempt to conduct additional attacks in Europe and attempt to direct attacks on the U.S. homeland in 2016."

Both officials said Russian and Chinese computer crime is another big threat.

Clapper told the senators, "Whether China's commitment of last September (to curb⁴ its cyber espionage⁵) moderates its economic espionage remains⁶ to be seen.”

Clapper said Russia is suspicious of being limited by NATO.

"They are greatly concerned about being contained and, of course, very concerned about (the U.S.) missile defense⁷, which would serve to neuter what is the essence of their claim to great power status, which is their nuclear arsenal⁸.”

On the same day of the hearing, President Barack Obama announced new measures to enhance cyber security.

Words in This Story

challenge – n. a difficult task or problem: something that is hard to do

diverse – adj. different from each other

commitment – n. a promise to do or give something

espionage – n. the things that are done to find out secrets from enemies or competitors: the activity of spying

essence – n. the basic nature of a thing: the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is