voa标准英语2008-US Commander says Military Ready to Defend Durin

（单词翻译）

General Victor Renuart Jr.

General Renuart said the U.S. military is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies to protect the nation from conventional and non-conventional threats. He said the terrorist attack on Mumbai, India demonstrates the need to be ever vigilant⁴ and ready to respond to events that may not fit models based on past events.

In a VOA interview, the U.S. Air Force general said special vigilance is needed during the change of administration in Washington.

"This is a period of transition and I think it is conceivable that an adversary⁵ would try to take advantage of that. Our role is to make sure that we maintain continuity of effort in the defense and security and civil support for our homeland," he said.

General Renuart also sought to clarify the domestic role of the U.S. Armed Forces during any catastrophic event. The Washington Post published a report Monday indicating 20,000 U.S. troops are being deployed⁶ to special domestic units to respond to potential terrorist attacks.

Civil liberties groups have expressed concern that this deployment⁷ could undermine the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the military role in domestic law enforcement.

But General Renuart said these troops will not be involved in law enforcement and will only be used to assist other agencies in dealing⁸ with an overwhelming disaster.

"Congress asked the Defense Department about three years ago to be prepared for three near simultaneous catastrophic events - nuclear, chemical, biologic, et cetera. What this capability⁹ does for us is allow us to have in a very well-trained, integrated, rapidly deployable¹⁰ organization, the chemical assessment¹¹, the decontamination, the medical treatment facilities that could help a state and the federal agencies respond to one of these kinds of events," he said.

General Renuart said the domestic force will consist of three forces of 4,700 persons, the first of which became available at Fort Stewart, Georgia on October first. The other two rapid-response forces are expected to be in place by the year 2011.

Civil libertarians, however, remain concerned over what they see as an expansion of executive and military authority on domestic soil.

In comments before an audience at the Baker Institute, General Renuart also discussed such issues as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, protection of U.S. ports and cooperation with Canada and Mexico. He expressed concern over the increasing violence along the U.S.-Mexico border resulting from Mexican President Felipe Calderon's attempts to defeat powerful drug smuggling¹² gangs. The U.S. Northern Command commander said the United States should provide whatever assistance it can to Mexico to benefit the security of both nations.