[REBORN FROM THE ASHES][comment][12.30]

hugeseaUID：190158

关于REBORN FROM THE ASHES组COMMENTS活动的说明&汇总
https://bbs.gter.net/thread-1042733-1-2.html


======================================================

U.S. Had Early Signals of a Terror Plot, Officials Say


President Obama, speaking on Tuesday at a Marine Corps base near Honolulu, said he would “insist on accountability at every level” for failures in security.
The president was told during a private briefing on Tuesday morning while vacationing here in Hawaii that the government had a variety of information in its possession before the thwarted bombing that would have been a clear warning sign had it been shared among agencies, a senior official said.
Two officials said the government had intelligence from Yemen before Friday that leaders of a branch of Al Qaeda there were talking about “a Nigerian” being prepared for a terrorist attack. While the information did not include a name, officials said it would have been evident had it been compared with information about Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian charged with trying to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight to Detroit on Christmas Day.
The government also had more information about where Mr. Abdulmutallab had been and what some of his plans were.
Some of the information was partial or incomplete, and it was not obvious that it was connected, the official said, but in retrospect it now appears clear that had it all been examined together it would have pointed to the pending attack. The official said the administration was “increasingly confident” that Al Qaeda had a role in the attack, as the group’s Yemeni branch has publicly claimed.
Shortly after being briefed, Mr. Obama addressed reporters in his second public statement on the matter in two days, announcing that a review already had revealed a breakdown in the intelligence system that did not properly identify the suspect as a dangerous extremist who should have been prevented from flying to the United States.
“A systemic failure has occurred, and I consider that totally unacceptable,” Mr. Obama said. He said he had ordered government agencies to give him a preliminary report on Thursday about what happened and added that he would “insist on accountability at every level,” although he did not elaborate.
Mr. Obama alluded to the intelligence in his statement. “Had this critical information been shared, it could have been compiled with other intelligence and a fuller, clearer picture of the suspect would have emerged,” the president said. “The warning signs would have triggered red flags, and the suspect would have never been allowed to board that plane for America.”
The president’s withering assessment of the government’s performance could reshape the intensifying political debate over the thwarted terrorist attack. Instead of defending the system, Mr. Obama sided with critics who complained that it did not work and positioned himself as a reformer who will fix it. At the same time, the decision to speak a second time after remaining out of sight for three days underscores the administration’s concern over being outflanked on national security.
The aftermath of the attempted bombing has been marked by an increasingly fierce partisan exchange over culpability heading into a midterm election year. With Republicans on the attack against the administration as not taking terrorism seriously enough, Democrats returned fire by accusing the opposition of standing in the way of needed personnel and money while exploiting public fears.
The debate has escalated since Mr. Obama’s secretary of homeland security, Janet Napolitano, said Sunday that “the system worked” after officials said the suspect tried to ignite explosive chemicals aboard a Northwest Airlines flight approaching Detroit. Ms. Napolitano made clear the next day that she had meant the system worked in its response to the attempted bombing, not before it happened.
Mr. Obama appeared to be trying to contain the damage on Tuesday, offering “systemic failure” as a substitute diagnosis for “system worked.” He framed Ms. Napolitano’s statement by saying she was right that “once the suspect attempted to take down Flight 253, after his attempt, it’s clear that passengers and crew, our homeland security systems and our aviation security took all appropriate actions.”
The president praised the professionalism of the nation’s intelligence, counterterrorism, homeland security and law enforcement officials. But he spared little in his sharp judgment about how a known extremist could be allowed to board a flight bound for the United States after his own father had warned that he had become radical.
“There was a mix of human and systemic failures that contributed to this potential catastrophic breach of security,” Mr. Obama told reporters at the Marine Corps base at Kaneohe Bay outside Honolulu, near his vacation home in Kailua. “We need to learn from this episode and act quickly to fix the flaws in our system because our security is at stake and lives are at stake.”
Mr. Obama suggested that he would overhaul the watch-list system. “We’ve achieved much since 9/11 in terms of collecting information that relates to terrorists and potential terrorist attacks,” he said. “But it’s becoming clear that the system that has been in place for years now is not sufficiently up to date to take full advantage of the information we collect and the knowledge we have.”
Mr. Abdulmutallab, who has been linked to the Yemeni branch of Al Qaeda, came to the attention of the American authorities when his father went to the embassy last month to report that his son had expressed radical views before disappearing. The father, a respected retired banker, did not say his son planned to attack Americans but sought help locating him and bringing him home, United States officials said.
After Mr. Abdulmutallab’s father asked the embassy in Nigeria for help, embassy officials from several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, met to discuss the case, officials said.
Paul Gimigliano, a C.I.A. spokesman, said that was the first time the agency had heard of the young Nigerian. “We did not have his name before then,” he said.
The embassy sent a cable to Washington, which resulted in Mr. Abdulmutallab’s name being entered in a database of 550,000 people with possible ties to terrorism. But he was not put on the much smaller no-fly list of 4,000 people or on a list of 14,000 people who are required to undergo additional screening before flying, nor was his multiple-entry visa to the United States revoked.
“It now appears that weeks ago this information was passed to a component of our intelligence community but was not effectively distributed so as to get the suspect’s name on a no-fly list,” Mr. Obama said of the father’s warning. “There appears to be other deficiencies as well. Even without this one report, there were bits of information available within the intelligence community that could have and should have been pieced together.”
Mr. Obama’s appearance came after another day of Republican criticism. On Tuesday, the National Republican Congressional Committee sought to inject the bombing attempt into next year’s midterm races. In a series of news releases, the committee sought to press vulnerable Democrats on whether they agreed with Ms. Napolitano’s initial assessment.
“All year long, we’ve asked the question: What is the administration’s overarching strategy to confront the terrorist threat and keep America safe?” Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the Republican leader, said in a statement Tuesday. “We haven’t gotten a satisfactory answer, and the secretary’s ‘the system worked’ response doesn’t inspire confidence.”
Democrats countered that Republicans had shown disregard for any terrorism risk by blocking the president’s nominee for head of the Transportation Security Administration and by voting this year against a measure providing $44 billion for Department of Homeland Security operations.
“They have essentially voted against and delayed providing the tools that are necessary to prevent these kinds of actions,” said Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
They also criticized Representative Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, the senior Republican on the intelligence committee and a leading critic of the White House, for tying the thwarted bombing to an appeal for money for his race for governor. In a letter first reported by The Grand Rapids Press, Mr. Hoekstra sought donations to help counter Democratic “efforts to weaken our security.”
A spokesman for Mr. Hoekstra’s campaign said the letter was appropriate and sought to inform potential donors of his leadership on national security issues.
Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat and majority leader, said on Tuesday that once the Senate returned on Jan. 19, he would move quickly to overcome Republicans’ objections to the nomination of Erroll G. Southers, a former F.B.I. agent, to lead the security agency.
Senator Jim DeMint, Republican of South Carolina, has blocked the appointment, saying he was worried Mr. Southers might allow T.S.A. workers to join labor unions. “Republicans have decided to play politics with this nomination by blocking final confirmation,” Mr. Reid said.
Mr. DeMint said he was seeking an opportunity to debate the nomination rather than have it approved without discussion, and he accused Mr. Reid of grandstanding. “Senator Reid completely ignored this nominee until the recent terror attempt,” Mr. DeMint said, “and now he’s trying to show concern for airport security.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/us/politics/30obama.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=world

splendidsunUID：2723757

赞~~
先占楼~恐怕得明天才能弄出来~今天先搞定我的PBL~

tequilawineUID：2702008

Retrospect 回顾
elaborate 详细描述V精心制作的allude to提到
暗指…说的
withering摧毁的
干燥处理的
escalate逐步升高
逐步加强ignite 点燃
a flight bound for the United States驶往catastrophic 悲惨的
灾难的
at stake 危险 危如累卵
overhaul检查
Revoke 撤回 废除 宣告无效

1 The president was told during a private briefing on Tuesday morning while vacationing here in Hawaii that the government had a variety of information in its possession before the thwarted bombing that would have been a clear warning sign had it been shared among agencies, a senior official said.
2 The aftermath of the attempted bombing has been marked by an increasingly fierce partisan exchange over culpability heading into a midterm election year.

Comment
The news explode at all the headline of newspaper around the world bringing the terrorist action into our sight again that means everywhere on earth need to take action to be antiterrorist. Although this catastrophic attack didn’t happen with the whole plane at stake near at last moment, we could do it better had it been efficiently investigated, from analyzing information to immediately forestalling. We desperately ought to reshape our temporary agency and system, after that revealing the breakdown in the intelligence system that didn’t not properly identify the suspect as a extremist who should have been prevented from flying to USA, as President Obama said, in order to give people more safe surroundings.
But ironically, with the incident occurring at the dawn of midterm election year, as a sign of the start-up of that, the two political party democrat and republican dramatically turn it into a weapon to assault each other, to riffle the campaign with more unpredictable, that means what they did not just only for people but also themselves. And I think it will weaken the confidence coming from the electorates on both sides. When facing human life, we should not do any tricks to swank ourselves at the cost of our morality.

zhengchangdianUID：2563082

竟然可以上了，占之:lol

hugeseaUID：190158

哇，我终于又能上了，呵呵，先占起来

fancywwUID：2583671

1.confused part:
The president was told during a private briefing on Tuesday morning while vacationing here in Hawaii that the government had a variety of information in its possession before the thwarted bombing that would have been a clear warning sign had it been shared among agencies, a senior official said.

2.useful words and expressions
accountability: the quality or state of being accountable;  especially   : an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions  *public officials lacking accountability
thwart: a : to run counter to so as to effectively oppose or baffle  : CONTRAVENE  b : to oppose successfully  : defeat the hopes or aspirations of 【frustrate】
pending:IMMINENT, IMPENDING
allude:to make indirect reference
The warning signs would have triggered red flags
withering assessment: acting or serving to cut down or destroy  : DEVASTATING
Mr. Obama sided with critics: 站到一边，agree with
outflank：1 : to get around the flank of (an opposing force)  2 : GET AROUND, CIRCUMVENT
aftermath：比result，consequence等形象
culpable: GUILTY, CRIMINAL
But he spared little in his sharp judgment
breach of security:1 : infraction or violation of a law, obligation, tie, or standard;  2 a : a broken, ruptured, or torn condition or area  b : a gap (as in a wall) made by battering;  3 a : a break in accustomed friendly relations  b : a temporary gap in continuity  : HIATUS
overhaul: a : to examine thoroughly  b (1) : REPAIR  (2) : to renovate, remake, revise, or renew thoroughly
overarching:dominating or embracing all else  *overarching goals

3.my comment
The thwarted bombing incident exposed the failure in American security. There are so many organizations protecting the safety of America:FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, etc. The share of information is very important, especially among such agencies.  Just like the president stated:Had this information been shared, it could have been compiled with other intelligence and a fuller, clearer picture of the suspect would have emerged. Of course they should learn from this lesson and fix the flaw quickly.
And like usual, there goes the critique and debate between the Republican and Democrats on the security system. Whatever their purposes are, their critique on each other is the motivating power, and promotes a better security system in USA.

qisaimanUID：2703629

thwarted 挫败
elaborate 详尽阐述
allude 婉转提及
wither 枯萎、希望破灭
side with 站在一起，立场一致
escalated 物价等飞速增长
revoke 撤销 废除
counter 反对面

in retrospect 回顾
underscore强调
outflank 包抄
return fire 回击
culpability 有罪
ignite 点燃
frame :
overhaul 仔细检修，大修

the passage discusses a malfunction of the us intelligence agency, to this systemic failure ,the president gave a withering assessment on the security system, which heated the fierce partisan debate over the defense system.
this argument seems more likely a partisan interest. both party pointed out the deficiencies of each other. there is advantage as well as drawback on the regime, the advantage is the republic can supervise the democrats and so do democrats, hence the public benefit. also drawback is here when the parties just criticize to get rid of the duty . it seems that on this breach the parties blames each other

adammaksimUID：2675466

briefing n. the act or instance of giving precise instructions or essential information

trigger red flags

wethering adj. acting or serving to cut down or destory

outflank vt.to get around the flank of 被侧翼包抄

stand in the way of something 妨碍

breach 违背，缺口

overarch  vt. 使。。。成为中心

grandstanding to play or act so as to impress onlookers

comments:
Politics, as a complicated subject, has been a game played by a few sophisticated individuals or groups and often confused laymen with its various masks since its born. In America, the situation is even more confusing with two competing parties and numerous interest groups. This article shows us that in many cases  the politicians are much more like participants in a politician reality show. They seldom speak their minds or act their true feeling; instead they play according to a given script. Their expressions never reveal their emotion but to make this show more vivid. However no matter how boring this show is, common people are doomed to pay for it.

plukaUID：2721764

NOTE

pointed to the pending（未决的） attack.
He said he had ordered government agencies to give him a preliminary report on Thursday about what happened and added that he would “insist on accountability at every level,” although he did not elaborate.
The president’s withering assessment of the government’s performance could reshape the intensifying political debate over the thwarted terrorist attack. 
The debate has escalated（论战升级） since...
But he spared little in his sharp judgment（评语依然尖锐？） about how a known extremist could be allowed to board a flight bound for the United States after his own father had warned that he had become radical. 
potential catastrophic breach of security（拿来跟‘恐怖主义’替换着说挺方便的）

COMMENT

What I see is a chaotic political quarrel mixed with eager exculpations and ruthless fires nurtured under a receding presidential influence. Mr Obama rushed to a statement of "system failure" too early, and such haste came not for the first time. Earlier this year, at the issue concerning the black professor arrested without evidence, his cursory comment(police are stupid) provoked enough objection and criticism. One might expect the president to be more mature and considerate, yet this anticipation failed. While Republicans spare no effort trying to prepare their way for the midterm election in 2010, the president's power and charisma seem to be fading and the prospect for Democrats is not a one that shines: almost surely an urgly time ahead. 

As for counterterrorism, uncertainties and tensions abound. The ultimate goal, of course, will be clear up existing malicious groups and cut off any recruitment. Yet this goal might be too ambitious to current systems. Mr Obama mentioned the out-dated equipment on relating department; besides, the theory needs to be renew. One of the characteristics of Terrorisim is that it never stop at one stage but keep on evolving, adapting itself into various environment and penetrating borders and fences. So must counterterrorism. A worldwide unity might achieve this, but only at the price of hard struggle and balance which, desperately, requires a commanding leader fully in control. 

Here we return to the same question: will Mr Obama be tough enough to stand all up? The answer matters not only Democrats but the world.

123runfordreamUID：2697608

elaborate：(to expand something in detail).
withering：(acting or serving to cut down or destroy)
overhaul：(to examine thoroughly )
sided with:( side with∕against：to support or argue against a person or group in a quarrel, fight etc)
alluded：(to make indirect reference)

The president was told during a private briefing on Tuesday morning while vacationing here in Hawaii that the government had a variety of information in its possession before the thwarted bombing that would have been a clear warning sign had it been shared among agencies, a senior official said.


Comments:
Terrorism probably is the most sensitive and serious topic nowadays especially in the United States. There is an old saying in China that” While the priest climbs a post, the devil climbs ten”. It seems the war between terrorism and American government administration that becomes more and more intellectual. America has the top high-tech device for security; however what had happened made Mr. Obama criticize the failure of system and the government agencies. The calamity of 911 had never gone away but still stayed in people’s memory. But it seems long ago enough, and since American government had put so much fiscal policy on it, also the battles on the Al Qaeda, which may make people, lose their nervousness.
Besides this issue, I would like to know much about the psychical situations of the people in the Al Qaeda. As I know, Mr. Abdulmutallab is a lonely person who has little communication with his classmates— he doesn’t have friend at all. I might need to do more research about psychology to comfort my curiosity.

doodaUID：2712643

Highlights:

• Marine Corps         海军陆战队
• thwart                       阻挠，使挫败。
• preliminary              预备的 初步的
• allud to                      暗指
• Intelligence               情报
• Had this critical information been shared, it could have been compiled with other intelligence and a fuller, clearer picture of the suspect would have emerged 事后诸葛...
• wither                         枯萎 凋零
• Side with                   意见一致
• position as                置身于*派系:)
• Republicans 共和党人 VS.     Democracts 民主党人
• fierce                         凶猛的 猛烈的
• culpability                  有罪性的
• a flight bound for        驶往某地的航班
• radical                       激进分子
• overhaul                     检查 大修
• could have and should have been pieced together. （情报机构）本可以并应该拼凑起来。
• strategy to confront the terrorist threat  应对恐怖主义威胁的策略。
• nominee 被提名人 nominate vt.
• Senate  参议院 上院
• play politics with 弄权

Comment:

This is an report about the terrorists thread happened recently in US. When the aircraft was landing to Detroit on Christmas Day, a 23 years old young man tried to ignite the bomb and finally was hold by passengers and crew. This is a beginning of the political debate between Democrats and Publicans, not just happy ending of successfully thwarted a catastrophic breach.
“The attempted bombing has been marked by an increasingly fierce partisan exchange over culpability heading into a midterm election year.” said by the journalist. Politicians began to play politic each other out of the benefits of the two parties they belong to. “The system did worked” said by Mr. Obama’s secretary of national security and “systemic failure” said by Mr Obama seems are two totally opposite comment. But both of them are correct in terms of the time. Critics from Publicans challenge the administration’s
strategy to confront the terrorist threat.
In spite the argument between the two parties, We can find at least two things from the report. The negative one is after this critical malfunction of the intelligence system, the US. government pay more attention on which party should pay the bill for the fault and begin to arguer each other. A government under such a situation is hardly to produce a high efficient.

In the other hand, In such a government which includes both parties people in it can help to keep open air and make all information available to public press. This is kind of mechanism like competition instead of monocracy, challenging instead of dictatorial, constrained instead of abusive. The democracy has the attribution of the lowest efficiency to make decisions and take actions but it did has the lowest possibilities to do things evil and going too far from what is right.

rodgoodUID：2619326

Useful words and expressions:

Marine Corps         海军陆战队

Accountability

Brief简要报告

Thwart

Al Qaeda基地组织

blow up爆炸

addressed reporters对记者讲话

pending attack

allude暗指

withering assessment

positioned himself as

aftermath of the attempted bombing

seek help doing sth.


Mr. Obama appeared to be trying to contain控制，抑制

took all appropriate actions

spared little in his sharp judgment about

contributed to

overhaul

in terms of

came to the attention of引起了……的注意

embassy

sought help

sent a cable to

with possible ties to=related to

overarching strategy支配性战略

nominee

play politics with 弄权

With Republicans on the attack against the administration as not taking terrorism seriously enough, Democrats returned fire by accusing the opposition of standing in the way of needed personnel and money while exploiting public fears.

At the same time, the decision to speak a second time after remaining out of sight for three days underscores the administration’s concern over being outflanked on national security.

I consider that totally unacceptable.

We need to learn from this episode and act quickly to fix the flaws in our system because our security is at stake and lives are at stake.

On Tuesday, the National Republican Congressional Committee sought to inject the bombing attempt into next year’s midterm races.

If从句的倒装：


The president was told during a private briefing on Tuesday morning while vacationing here in Hawaii that the government had a variety of information in its possession before the thwarted bombing that would have been a clear warning sign had it been shared among agencies.

But in retrospect it now appears clear that had it all been examined together it would have pointed to the pending attack.

While the information did not include a name, officials said it would have been evident had it been compared with information about Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

Had this critical information been shared, it could have been compiled with other intelligence and a fuller, clearer picture of the suspect would have emerged


My comments:

I can even imagine Mr Obama's big mouth when he was saying "insist on accountabilities at every level". This is a report about responses to the attempting terrorist attack from government. It gradually turns out to be a debate focus on political strategy or even the midterm election year.

America may be a nation with the most developed facilities and intelligence system towards terrorism because of fears from 911, although Obama said the systems was out of date. Recent years, cooperation on counter-terrorism has created many common topics for America and other countries. Even China, who has various disagreements with America on different fields, is becoming an important partner for America. However, in my opinion, the key to prevent terrorism is not merely relying on the most developed weapons and security systems, but giving up hegemonism。America has always been regarding itself as the leader in the world and playing a arbitrary role which makes other countries’ disgust. So it becomes the aim of terroristic attacks is out of question. How to avoid this problem? Maybe China is a perfect model.

qxn_1987UID：2610437

“insist on accountability at every level” for failures in security.

The president was told during a private briefing on Tuesday morning while vacationing here in Hawaii that the government had a variety of information in its possession before the thwarted bombing that would have been a clear warning sign had it been shared among agencies, a senior official said.

Two officials said the government had intelligence from Yemen before Friday that leaders of a branch of Al Qaeda there were talking about “a Nigerian” being prepared for a terrorist attack. While the information did not include a name, officials said it would have been evident had it been compared with information about Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian charged with（控告） trying to blow up（使充气，爆炸，放大） a Northwest Airlines flight to Detroit on Christmas Day.

Some of the information was partial or incomplete, and it was not obvious that it was connected, the official said, but in retrospect it now appears clear that had it all been examined together it would have pointed to the pending attack. The official said the administration was “increasingly confident” that Al Qaeda had a role in the attack, as the group’s Yemeni branch has publicly claimed.

Shortly after being briefed, Mr. Obama addressed reporters in his second public statement on the matter in two days, announcing that a review already had revealed a breakdown in the intelligence system that did not properly identify the suspect as a dangerous extremist who should have been prevented from flying to the United States.

“A systemic failure has occurred, and I consider that totally unacceptable,” Mr. Obama said. He said he had ordered government agencies to give him a preliminary report on Thursday about what happened and added that he would “insist on accountability at every level,” although he did not elaborate.

Mr. Obama alluded to the intelligence in his statement. “Had this critical information been shared, it could have been compiled with other intelligence and a fuller, clearer picture of the suspect would have emerged,” the president said. “The warning signs would have triggered red flags, and the suspect would have never been allowed to board that plane for America.”

The president’s withering assessment of the government’s performance could reshape the intensifying political debate over the thwarted terrorist attack. Instead of defending the system, Mr. Obama sided with critics who complained that it did not work and positioned himself as a reformer who will fix it. At the same time, the decision to speak a second time after remaining out of sight for three days underscores the administration’s concern over being outflanked on national security.

The president praised the professionalism of the nation’s intelligence, counterterrorism, homeland security and law enforcement officials. But he spared little in his sharp judgment about how a known extremist could be allowed to board a flight bound for the United States after his own father had warned that he had become radical.

“There was a mix of human and systemic failures that contributed to this potential catastrophic breach of security,” Mr. Obama told reporters at the Marine Corps base at Kaneohe Bay outside Honolulu, near his vacation home in Kailua. “We need to learn from this episode and act quickly to fix the flaws in our system because our security is at stake and lives are at stake.”

Mr. Obama suggested that he would overhaul the watch-list system. “We’ve achieved much since 9/11 in terms of collecting information that relates to terrorists and potential terrorist attacks,” he said. “But it’s becoming clear that the system that has been in place for years now is not sufficiently up to date to take full advantage of the information we collect and the knowledge we have.”

“It now appears that weeks ago this information was passed to a component of our intelligence community but was not effectively distributed so as to get the suspect’s name on a no-fly list,” Mr. Obama said of the father’s warning. “There appears to be other deficiencies as well. Even without this one report, there were bits of information available within the intelligence community that could have and should have been pieced together.”

“All year long, we’ve asked the question: What is the administration’s overarching strategy to confront the terrorist threat and keep America safe?” Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the Republican leader, said in a statement Tuesday. “We haven’t gotten a satisfactory answer, and the secretary’s ‘the system worked’ response doesn’t inspire confidence.”

Senator Jim DeMint, Republican of South Carolina, has blocked the appointment, saying he was worried Mr. Southers might allow T.S.A. workers to join labor unions. “Republicans have decided to play politics（弄权） with this nomination by blocking final confirmation,” Mr. Reid said.

Mr. DeMint said he was seeking an opportunity to debate the nomination rather than have it approved without discussion, and he accused Mr. Reid of grandstanding. “Senator Reid completely ignored this nominee until the recent terror attempt,” Mr. DeMint said, “and now he’s trying to show concern for airport security.”


Comments:

To be honest, until I read this report today, did I know this terrorist attack since 9/11. It is no denying that it has caused a panic again while not every change, pain or panic wrought by the 9/11 is reversed.

Would the terrorist attack have been avoided, if the intelligence syetem had paid enough improtance to Mr. Abdulmutalla’s father’s warning. So, as to this affair, Mr. Obama sided with critics who complained that the intelligence syetem which had some deficiencies—in their opinion, had not worked effectively and properly. Admittedly, this view is true and could demonstrate some problems to some extent, nonetheless, it would be so difficult to check all 550,000 people with possible ties to terrorism, on the other hand.

prettywraithUID：197049

Comments (2009-12-30):
As an aftermath of frequent wars launched by America, terrorists, who are called like this by American, begin to attack American homeland for revenge. As the proverb always says "No pain, no gain", for America, it is "No war, no terrorism ". Certainly, I sympathize with those dead or wounded people in terrorist attacks, and unfortunately they afforded for their government's mistake. But, some people like the author of the article concerned how to improve the homeland security system than concern the reasons of terrorist attacks. Furthermore, many politicians, whatever Republicans or Democrats, seem to pay more attention on accusing each other than take other useful actions. They only remember these American people are killed and the buildings are destroyed by terrorist attacks, but they forget those millions of people are massacred and millions of housings are corrupted in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Korea, Palestine and Yugoslavia. Ironically, America, whose belief is "people are created equal", prompts those events happen.

Admittedly, except for its aggressive actions for other countries, America has relatively sound laws, regulations, and management, and American people enjoy more liberty rights and happiness life than other countries' people. This is also why America attracts numerous brilliant people to serve the country. Actually, comparing with other countries, America suffers almost little terrorist attacks. In my country, this event is merely not big deal and nobody dares to criticize government's management ability. After all, the terrorist attacks news, which often happens in Russia, India, Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel, fill with all the media. May be, American people have lived peacefully in long time, and they are scared easily by those bloody scenes. How happiness are American people! And I greatly admire them. Their powerful government provides them cheap goods, high quality education, satisfying medical treatment and reliable security system, while their country is invading other nations.

海王泪UID：2673613

Sentences and phrases
Unfamiliar Words
the thwarted bombing, Preliminary report, elaborate, outflanked, pieced

Functional Sentence
【Argument-Point out a serious failure or important assumption or ignored condition】
A systemic failure has occurred, and I consider that totally unacceptable.
An indispensable condition has been ignored, and I consider that totally unacceptable because ….
An important assumption has occurred, and I consider that totally unacceptable.

Materials
Democrats returned fire by accusing the opposition of standing in the way of needed personnel and money while exploiting public fears.
Government‘s policy/strategy/plan needs personnel and money.

Useful expressions
It now appears clear that had it all been examined together it would have pointed to the pending attack.
Pending=forthcoming=imminent=about to happen
Pending=Pendent=undecided=undetermined=unsettled=in suspense=up in the air

Although he did not elaborate.
Elaborate=explain in details=amplify: develop

Mr. Obama alluded to the intelligence in his statement.
Allude to=suggest=hint=imply=intimate

The debate has escalated.
Escalate= intensify become worse
Escalate=increase rapidly (Price)

But he spared little in his sharp judgment about….
Spare little in sharp judgment=heavily criticize

But it’s becoming clear that the system that has been in place for years now is not sufficiently up to date to take full advantage of the information we collect and the knowledge we have.
Up to date=the latest=modern
Take full advantage=make use of=utilize
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Comment
Counterterrorism, though never cool, is particularly hot at the moment since Obama’s inauguration. The thwarted bombing recently escalate the debate about American security system. Ironically, when American fear after the event for about hundreds of lives on plane, millions of people in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and some other Islam nations are still suffered from the war waged by United States.

Allah or Uncle Sam? Who is the true terrorism? I do not know. People always attack under name of “judge”. But in my words, judge is interest. Whatever about terrorism are conflicts among different interest groups.

Maybe I am too naive to know what exactly politics is. But Game Theory has long told me that if these nations come into agreement, personnel and money spent in war for both weapons and security system would create value for human race rather than consume resources for meaningless conflicts.