voa标准英语2008-Top US Military Officer Concerned Economic Crisi-英语课

时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2008年(十二月)

英语课

The top U.S. military officer says he is concerned that the global economic crisis could create instability and, potentially, more terrorism around the world, particularly in African countries and other relatively 1 poor areas.
　

Chairman of the Joints 3 Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, 10 Dec 2008

Admiral Mike Mullen says the global economic downturn could create more terrorists.

"I'm very concerned about the global financial crisis and its impact globally on security," he said. "I think it will impact on security, over a period of time. As food prices continue to go up, as other costs continue to go up, as this pressure is brought globally, I think the possibilities for increased instability, as opposed to increased stability, are there. Without being precise about where that might happen, I just think the extent of this, or the length of this, is going to have an impact on increased instability in countries that are already under a great deal of pressure because their economies aren't that healthy in the first place."

Admiral Mullen says jobs are the key link between the economy and security.

"With a stable economy, jobs come," he said. "You are able to expand and create the kind of positive cycle that gets you away from the violence and other options for unemployed 4 young men, in particular."

At a Pentagon news conference, the admiral also noted 5 that terrorists need places to train and take refuge, and he says economic troubles can also result in more of those, as governments have fewer resources to devote to securing their territory. He says the problem puts "enormous" pressure on African countries in particular, where many governments have very large areas to defend and terrorists have been trying to gain a foothold.

"I am concerned about the potential for a safe haven 6 in Somalia, as I am in Yemen," Adm. Mullen said. "And I try to pay attention to the evolution of potential safe havens 7, these two in particular, and specifically to the one in Somalia. So I'm extremely concerned about that."

Admiral Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint 2 Chiefs of Staff, did not suggest any U.S. military operations to eliminate or prevent the creation of terrorist safe havens. The Pentagon has a variety of programs designed to improve the defense 8 capabilities 9 of partner nations in Africa and elsewhere, and the U.S. government also has aid and development programs that may help ease the impact of job losses caused by the economic downturn. But the admiral says the effort to reduce global terrorism may get more difficult as job losses increase and all countries tighten 10 their defense budgets, including the United States.

1 relatively

adv.比较...地，相对地

The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

2 joint

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

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。

3 joints

接头( joint的名词复数 )；关节；公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所）（非正式）；一块烤肉（英式英语）