VOA标准英语2013--华盛顿周报：奥巴马政府聚焦恐怖威胁

（单词翻译）

Washington Week: Obama Administration Focused on Terror Threat 华盛顿周报：奥巴马政府聚焦恐怖威胁

WASHINGTON — America’s military, diplomatic, and intelligence apparatus¹ is on high alert amid a terror threat that prompted the closing of many U.S. embassies and a worldwide travel warning. The security focus comes during an otherwise quiet week in Washington with Congress starting a month-long recess².

President Barack Obama is getting regular briefings and updates from his national security team, including the chairman of the Joint³ Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey. “There is a significant threat stream, and we are responding to it. It is an al-Qaida affiliated⁴ threat," he said.

U.S. embassies and consulates⁶ are closed across the Muslim world, including in Egypt, where American citizens are taking precautions.

U.S. officials have provided few details about any imminent⁷ terrorist plots or specific intelligence they have received. But the Obama administration appears determined⁸ to avoid a repeat of last year’s deadly attack on the U.S. consulate⁵ in Benghazi, Libya. Probes of the incident revealed that security warnings prior to the attack went unheeded.

Even America’s best-protected diplomatic posts, like the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, are vulnerable to attack, according to Iraqi-based security analyst⁹ Amir al-Saadi. “The American embassy in Iraq is the biggest embassy in the world in area, staff and fortifications, but it is not entirely¹⁰ safe from rockets and mortars," he said.

At U.S. airports, many departing for the Middle East say the travel alert did not cause them to change their plans.

President Obama will continue to get regular updates on the situation. Meanwhile, Congress is idle until September, allowing lawmakers to hear from constituents¹¹ on issues ranging from immigration reform to recent revelations about the federal government’s domestic surveillance capabilities¹².