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标题：VOA常速英语：UN: Fighting Terrorism in Africa Requires Coordinated Response
听力内容：
World leaders meeting at the United Nations have been calling for a coordinated response to terrorist attacks in Africa following the deaths of at least 67 people in an attack by Somali militants in Kenya.
The attack on Nairobi's Westgate Mall put African terrorism back into the world spotlight. U.S. President Barack Obama said he is working with African leaders to dismantle terror networks while Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said the fight must be united.
"We maintain that terror anywhere in the world is terror on all of us. And, we call on global leaders to come together and fight terror," said Jonathan.
Nigeria is currently engaged in a fight with terrorists from a group called Boko Haram. Some are believed to have trained with al-Shabab, the al-Qaida affiliate that claimed responsibility for the attack in Kenya. In Africa, terrorism remains largely based on local dynamics, according to Africa analyst Jason Mosley.
"This is not a signal that Africa has become the new battleground for international terrorism, but rather that international organizations like al-Qaida have found traction for their ideology and methodologies among militant groups with local agendas," said Mosley.
West African troops, supported by French airpower, helped drive back al-Qaida affiliated militia in Mali early this year, but that has not stopped terrorism in the Sahel, says Senegal's President Macky Sall.
"The gunmen in Mali are scattered, but the terrorist threat to the Sahel is not over. Only through ongoing coordinated action will we be able to address Africa's emerging security challenges," said Sall.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says there are many such challenges.
"Terrorist acts and transnational organized crime, including arms and drug trafficking, threaten stability. We must particularly beware the evolution and appeal of radicalism and violent ideology among the region's youth," said Ban.
Recent elections in Mali may have created a base on which to confront terror. Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore called the election of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita an encouraging sign in a dangerous region.
"The Sahel has become a hideout for drug traffickers and terrorists whose destabilizing influences are a real threat to regional security, even as the international stabilization force and presidential elections in Mali have helped restore some order," said Compaore.
However, with ungoverned areas existing throughout the Sahel, democratic governance in Mali may defuse the terror threat but not eliminate it, said Sarah Margon of Human Rights Watch.
"If Mali does move forward and restore its democracy in a genuine way, Mali may sort of have been able to keep at bay the worst elements. But there are a number of neighboring countries that may be at greater risk in light of a strengthening al-Qaida affiliate in the region," explained Margon.
Al-Shabab's spread from Somalia to Kenya shows how mobile the threats are. Kenya's Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku says his country is receiving broad international support.
"Terrorism is a global problem, and we welcome international intelligence sharing since it is consistent with the tackling of the problem," said Lenku.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban says he trusts those responsible for the Kenyan attack will be brought to justice.
************标题：VOA常速英语：Top 5 Songs for Week Ending Sept. 21
听力内容：
This is the Top Five Countdown where we look at the five most popular songs in the Billboard Magazine Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending September 21, 2013.
Two of our top five titles change this week - that's a 40 percent turnover! It all starts in fifth place, where Avicii jumps two slots with “Wake Me Up!” The song comes with a pedigree. Released in June, it's already gone to number one in more than 25 countries, from Bulgaria to New Zealand. It's a million-seller in the United States, and has topped two separate Billboard dance charts.
Also on the rise are Jay Z and Justin Timberlake, as “Holy Grail” jumps a slot to fourth place. The second volume of Justin's 20/20 Experience album hits the market on September 30.
Up a big five slots to third place is Lorde with “Royals.” This young singer may be the year's fastest-rising star. Just a few months ago, the 16-year-old singer was virtually unknown outside her native New Zealand. Now, thanks to the web, her videos and songs have made her a fast-rising global star, and her debut album Pure Heroine is set for a September 30 release.
Holding fast in second place are Robin Thicke, T.I. and Pharrell with “Blurred Lines.” It's a tribute to the song's popularity that the former 12-week champ remains strong in second place. Robin Thicke, T.I. and Pharrell have gone seven times platinum in Australia, six times platinum in Canada, and five times platinum in the United States - meaning this song has sold five million downloads.
Still at number one is Katy Perry with “Roar.” She holds the Billboard Hot 100 singles title for a second week. Katy's real name is Katherine Hudson - and she sang Christian rock when she released her debut album in 2001. Seven years later she re-emerged as the singer we know and love today.
That's it for now; join us in one week for an all-new hit list.
************标题：VOA常速英语：US Congress Braces for High Stakes Budget Battle
听力内容：
As accusations fly between the two major political parties, Congress and the White House are headed to the latest in a series of showdowns that have nearly resulted in the partial shut down of the government. This time it might happen, as two ideologies collide just as spending authorization runs out.
Analysts say such repetitive brinkmanship would be unlikely in other democracies around the world.
House Republicans celebrated, on Friday, their government spending measure crippling the president's health care law.
Furious House Democrats are now accusing Republicans of threatening to close down the government rather than give in.
"This place is a mess. Let's get our house in order," said Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
At the heart of the battle is a clash over the role of government. The Tea Party, an anti-big government faction of the Republican Party, emerged four years ago to oppose the president's signature reform of the health care system.
After Obama pushed through health insurance reform to provide health coverage to millions,
Republicans took back the U.S. House with a core of about 30 Tea Party-oriented members who say they are willing to take risks for their convictions.
"This is in many ways a takeover of the Republican Party by an extreme faction that did not really exist 10 years ago," said budget expert Stan Collender.
Tea Party members are carrying out the wishes of voters in their districts by taking Congress to the brink, says Steve Bittle of George Washington University.
"Many of the more rebellious members, these Tea Party members, come from districts that have very solid Republican majorities," he said. "They are really not worried about a challenge from the Democrats. They are worried about a challenge from the right-wing of their party."
At a luncheon for conservatives, Republican Raul Labrador blamed the threat of a shutdown on Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Obama.
"And if Harry Reid and the President want to shut down the government because all we are asking for is a simple delay of Obamacare, then I hope you write the story that way, and not in the way that we are the ones who are at fault," he said.
Republican Representative Mark Meadows says Americans shouldn't worry.
"We have had 17, 17 government shutdowns, in our history. And all of those were partial shutdowns," he said. "The longest one was 21 days. No one ever didn't get paid ..."
Asked if other democracies could have showdowns on routine funding bills, analysts say it's hard to imagine.
"In parliamentary systems, a situation like this probably would have ended up in a call for new elections, maybe a vote of no confidence in the prime minister," Stan Collender said.
"The next act in the drama will be in the Senate, where all eyes are focused on Majority Leader Harry Reid to see what he does with the House bill. He has already said the Senate will not pass a bill that defunds the health care law.
************标题：VOA常速英语：Top Priority for FBI In Minnesota: Somali Extremists
听力内容：
U.S. law enforcement officials say preventing Somali Americans from aiding the terrorist organization al-Shabab continues to be its top priority in Minnesota, where the largest Somali community in the United States resides.
The FBI said it will not comment at this time on its active investigation into the al-Shabab terrorist group's attack on Nairobi's Westgate Mall and whether any Somali Americans were involved.
But for FBI agents in Minneapolis, combating al-Shabab's efforts to radicalize Somali Americans has been the top priority for years. Kyle Loven is the chief division counsel for the region. “We have individuals who have purportedly [been] going over to fight on behalf of a foreign terrorist organization which has been so designated by the state department," he noted. "So that is a violation of federal law and we've had some convictions here in the last couple of years.”
More than 20 young Somali Americans have travelled to Somalia to fight for the terrorist group. Some were killed overseas. Some returned and were convicted of aiding a terrorist organization and sentenced to between 3 and 20 years. Loven said the FBI is intent on ending the terrorist ties between Somalia and Minnesota.
“We want to discover who is radicalizing these young men, facilitators, where the money is coming from, and try to disrupt this pipeline of young Somali men. That is the aim of this investigation,” Loven said.
Anders Folk, former assistant U.S. attorney for Minnesota said counter-terrorism is also a main focus. “In terms of the number of cases prosecuted and in terms of the number of defendants convicted, it is the most extensive counter terrorism investigation that Minneapolis has seen,” he said.
He said the Islamic militant organization indoctrinates disaffected Muslim youths in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to recruit friends to wage jihad against enemies of Islam.
“Al-Shabab used peer to peer recruiting in the twin cities, that it used individuals who once they left Minnesota and joined the organization in Somalia, those individuals reached back to their friends and family in the twin cities,” Folk explained.
Folk said law enforcement and moderate Somalis have reduced the influence of al-Shabab, but the group is still trying to reach out to at-risk Somali men in Minnesota.
************标题：VOA常速英语：Top 5 Songs for Week Ending September 28
听力内容：
We're getting up close and personal with the five most popular songs in the Billboard Magazine Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending September 28, 2013.
This week's chart champion illustrates the axiom that there's no such thing as bad publicity. Before we get there, though, let's start in fifth place, where Avicii holds tight with “Wake Me Up!” It was close but no cigar for the Swedish DJ on the international album charts. Last week, Avicii released his debut album True; he entered at number two in both Australia and the United Kingdom.
Robin Thicke has topped both singles and album charts worldwide with Blurred Lines and its title cut; this week, however, Robin, T.I. and Pharrell fall two slots to fourth place. Mega-hit “Blurred Lines” sold more than five million copies in just over five months in the United States - faster than any other song in digital history.
Meanwhile, it's a wait-and-see week for Lorde. Her debut album Pure Heroine doesn't come out until September 30, while her previously unstoppable single “Royals” hits the brakes in third place.
Katy Perry is down but not out: after spending two weeks atop the Hot 100 with “Roar,” she slips a slot to second place. Katy performs a brief set on September 30 at London's iTunes Festival, then returns home to California - on October 23, she'll perform a charity show at the Hollywood Bowl. It will benefit Young Survival Coalition, aiding young women with breast cancer worldwide.
Not only does our new singles champ earn her first U.S. number one hit, she does so in crushing fashion: Miley Cyrus swings from 22nd to first place with “Wrecking Ball.” The controversial singer may have more wins in store: Bangerz arrives on October 8, and could well become her third number one album - her sixth, if you include her long-ago releases as Hannah Montana.
That's it for now, but please join us next week for more Hot 100 action.
************Investors are watching nervously as the U.S. central bank considers when to reduce its efforts to stimulate the economy. Many economists predict that the cuts will come sometime next year, while others say it might be as soon as next Wednesday.
投资人正在密切关注美联储何时缩减刺激经济措施。许多经济学家预测，这个缩减可能会在明年某个时间发生，不过也有人说，它快则下星期三就会来到。
Stock prices plunged earlier this year when the U.S. central bank said it might gradually reduce stimulus efforts.
今年初当美联储说它可能逐渐减少刺激经济的措施时，股价一时为之下跌。
Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke said a strengthening economy would, eventually, no longer needed the boost it got from a huge program of bond purchases.
美联储主席伯南克说，一个正在增强的经济，最终将不会再需要以购买债券的巨大项目来给予刺激。
"If the incoming data support the view that the economy can sustain a reasonable cruising speed, we will ease the pressure on the accelerator by gradually reducing the pace of purchases," he said.
伯南克说：“如果我们收到的数据支持这种观点，如果经济可以保持在一个合理的行进速度，我们将放缓对加加速器的压力，逐渐放慢购买债券的步调。”
The National Association for Business Economics said its economists saw growth improving this year, rising to a three percent annual rate next year.
美国全国企业经济协会说，它的经济学家认为今年的经济增长将有所改善，明年则有可能达到百分之3的年增长率。
The group's survey of its members said stronger growth meant less need for stimulus this year, and made cuts nearly certain next year.
这个组织对其会员进行的问卷调查说，强劲的增长意味着今年对刺激的需要减少，也让明年缩减刺激的可能变成几乎可以确定。
National Defense University Professor Nayantara Hensel designed the survey. “The bulk of our panelists think there is an 80 percent probability that the Fed is going to taper off in 2014,” she said.
设计这个问卷的美国国防大学教授韩塞尔说：“我们大部分成员认为，有百分之80的可能美联储的刺激会在2014年慢慢减少。”
The Fed has been trying to boost economic growth since the recession sharply increased unemployment.
自从经济不景气导致失业率显著增加后，美联储一直在设法刺激经济增长。
First, it cut short-term interest rates to nearly zero and pledged to keep them ultra-low until unemployment falls to 6.5 percent or lower.
首先，它将短期利息降低到将接近零，并承诺会维持这种超低利率，直到失业率降到百分之6.5或更低为止。
Then it created a second program to cut long-term interest rates, making it easier for families to borrow money for new homes and easier for businesses to raise capital for new equipment.
接着，它设立了第2个项目来降低长期利率，让一般家庭能容易贷款买新的住房，企业容易增资购买新设备。
Under the program, the Fed is buying $85 billion in securities each month. So cutting that stimulus would reduce those purchases.
美联储在这个项目下，每个月购买了8百50亿美元的债券。所以只要缩减这种刺激，家庭和企业的购买也会跟着减少。
Hensel said not all the data supported a cutback. “We are seeing sort of some economic growth, but not as sudden and as significant as one might expect,” she said.
韩塞尔说，并非所有的数据都支持缩减经济刺激：“我们看到一些经济增长，不过它不像我们预期的那么突然和明显。”
And a survey of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants showed some members were worried that renewed wrangling over taxes and government spending in Congress could discourage investments needed for growth.
另外，美国注册会计师协会的一个问卷调查显示，它的一些成员担忧，美国国会对税收和政府开支的争论将阻碍经济增长所需要的投资。
Gary Lubin, CEO of Centerphase Solutions, helped organize the survey and spoke to VOA via Skype.
美国Centerphase Solution公司的执行长盖瑞 卢宾协助组织这个问卷调查。他通过Skype接受美国之音采访。
“The debt ceiling, sequestration, issues around patent protection and some international business practices - all really create a certain level of uncertainty which leads to some apprehension or some holding back of items, for example capital spending,” he said.
卢宾说：“举债上限、自动减支、涉及专利保护的议题，以及一些国际商业行为，这些都会制造某种程度的不确定，从而导致一些忧虑，或暂时压住一些项目，例如资本支出。”
Top officials of the U.S. Federal Reserve are scheduled to meet next Tuesday and Wednesday for debate on economic policy. On Wednesday, Bernanke is scheduled to meet with journalists to explain the changes - if any - in the bank’s strategy.
美联储高层官员预订下星期二、星期三开会来讨论经济政策。伯南克预订星期三举行记者会，说明美联储采取的策略，或策略是否有任何改变。
************标题：VOA常速英语：US Looking to Bolster Israeli-Palestinian Talks at UN
听力内容：
At this week's meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will be pushing efforts to back ongoing peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. The talks are based on a two-state solution to the conflict.
Nothing has taken more of John Kerry's time as Secretary of State than Middle East peace. So these talks have been front and center in the run-up to his first U.N. General Assembly. "I am talking to both leaders directly and everybody, I think, understands the goal that we are working for. It is two states living side by side in peace and in security," he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it is time. "We both know that this road is not an easy one, but we have embarked this effort with you in order to succeed to bring about a historic reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians that ends the conflict once and for all," he said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Palestinians are ready. "We have a period of nine months during which we hope to be able to reach to a peace agreement between us and the Israelis," he said.
Obstacles include the status of Jerusalem as an Israeli and Palestinian capital and the borders of a two-state solution.
The same issues that have largely blocked progress on a negotiated settlement since the Oslo Accords 20 years ago. So what has changed Broader Israeli concerns about the future, says former U.S. ambassador Adam Ereli. "Whether or not you have the territory, whether or not you have provided for your security, the fact of the matter is it does not serve Israel's long-term interest to be an occupying power," he said.
Israel has issued new work permits for Palestinians from the West Bank as part of economic measures aimed at supporting the peace talks. But that is offset by new Israeli settlements, says Oxfam's Alun McDonald. "There are a lot of reasons to feel positive, but itis very hard to be optimistic when over the past few weeks there have been more announcements of settlements, there have been more demolitions of homes, and the occupation still continues," he said.
Settlements are a particularly difficult issue for Israel's coalition government, says Cato Institute analyst Doug Bandow. "The internal political dynamic is a very complicated one. It is hard to give those up. There is very little trust on both sides, so there is a lot of skepticism out there," he said.
Bandow says putting a peace deal to Israeli voters is especially perilous for a coalition government confronting divisive social issues of welfare benefits and military service for Orthodox Jews. "This really has to look good, it really has to look salable before Netanyahu is going to take ownership. He's got a lot else on his plate," he said.
Former Israeli negotiator Uri Savir says the momentum of the Oslo Accords is not entirely lost. "Peace processes take time. It is a difficult transition. But the foundations are still alive. And a two-state solution will still be achieved, I have no doubt," he said.
Kerry says time is the enemy of a peace process because it allows a vacuum to be filled by people who do not want things to happen.
************标题：VOA慢速英语附字幕：特殊蚊帐有效防止淋巴丝虫病传播
听力内容：
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语健康报道。
Scientists are working on ways to stop a disease that threatens one-fifth of the world's population. Over 120 million people are infected with lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis. The disease is found mainly in Southeast Asia and Africa. It effects the lymphatic system which is a major part of the body's natural defense for fighting disease.
科学家们正研究如何防治一种威胁世界1/5人口的疾病。超过1.2亿人感染淋巴丝虫病，这种疾病又名象皮病，主要发生在东南亚和非洲。它能影响淋巴系统，这是人体对疾病自然防御的主要机体。
Elephantiasis can cause swelling or enlargement of skin and tissue. The cause is a tiny worm that enters and lives in lymphatic tubes for six to eight years.
象皮病会引起皮肤和组织肿胀或扩大。因为微小的蠕虫能进入并在淋巴管内存活6至8年。
Scientists say they have been able to demonstrate that the most common cause of elephantiasis can be stopped. They are urging those at risk to sleep under nets treated with chemicals that kill a common insect - the mosquitoes.
科学家们称，他们可以证明象皮病的最常见病因能够被防治。他们正劝说有患病危险者睡在那些经化学物质处理后驱灭蚊虫的蚊帐里。
Lisa Reimer teaches at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. She formerly served in Papua New Guinea, as part of the team studying the disease. The team involved researchers from Papua New Guinea, Britain, Australia and the United States.
Lisa Reimer在利物浦热带医学院任教。她之前任职于巴布亚新几内亚，作为研究该病的团队成员之一。这个团队包括巴布亚新几内亚、英国、澳大利亚和美国的研究人员。
Doctor Reimer says she was surprised at how effective anti-malaria bed nets covered with insecticide could be at fighting the disease.
Reimer医生称，她对布满杀虫剂的抗疟疾蚊帐能如此有效抗击该疾病感到惊讶。
"Filariasis is only picked up by mosquitoes late in the evening, so this is the time when people are more likely to be protected by their bed nets. So we found that bed net use actually is a greater barrier against filariasis transmission whereas malaria transmission may still be occurring outside the times when the user is under the net."
“因为深夜的蚊子是丝虫病的唯一携带者，而在此期间人们更可能已受到蚊帐的保护。所以我们发现，实际上蚊帐的使用是防治丝虫病传播的更大屏障，但疟疾传播还可能发生在人们不受蚊帐保护的时间。”
Doctors normally use drugs to fight the disease. Ms Reimer says doctors in Papua New Guinea gave the drugs to people of five villages. She says this treatment nearly ended the threat from the worm to humans, but the drugs didn't stop the threat from mosquitoes.
医生们通常使用药物以防治该疾病。Reimer称，巴布亚新几内亚的医生们给予药物至5个村庄的村民。她说，这种疗法几乎结束了蠕虫对人类的威胁，但这种药物并不能阻止蚊虫的威胁。
The treated nets block female mosquitoes from securing blood, which is necessary for them to reproduce. The insecticide also cuts the life of the insects in half.
处理过的蚊帐能阻止雌性蚊子吸血，而这是蚊子繁殖的必需品。杀虫剂还能削减蚊虫一半的寿命。
"If we can reduce mosquito-biting rates then we're able to increase the thresholds below which the disease prevalence will move to zero. So by controlling mosquitoes we're making the targets for the mass drug administration more obtainable."
“如果能降低蚊虫叮咬率，我们就能提高阈值。此病若低于阈值，患病率就能降至零。因此，通过控制蚊虫，我们更有机会实现大规模药物管理的目标。”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a goal of stopping lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem by the year 2020.
世界卫生组织已制定目标，即在2020年前将淋巴丝虫病作为公共卫生问题得到防治。
The WHO estimates that 1.4 billion people in 73 countries are at risk of the disease. children are often infected, but they do not show signs of the disease until later in life.
世界卫生组织估计，73个国家的14亿人有患病危险。儿童常被感染，但该病的症状很久后才会显现。
And that's the Health Report from VOA Learning English. I'm Bob Doughty.
以上是美国之音慢速英语健康报道，我是Bob Doughty。
************标题：VOA常速英语：US Strike on Syria May Have Unintended Consequences
听力内容：
A U.S. attack against Syria could have unintended consequences and may not deter Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, some Middle East analysts say.
The cruise missiles are ready. The targets are being identified.
President Barack Obama is making the case for a U.S. attack.
“It is limited. It does not involve boots on the ground. This is not Iraq and this is not Afghanistan,” said Obama.
But analysts say Syria's military can withstand a limited strike. Some analysts are concerned that anything short of a robust attack may not deter Damascus.
Syrian analyst Elizabeth O'Bagy said, "If there is not an adequate response to the use of chemical weapons, it is very likely that he will continue to use them.”
Obama's decision to seek Congressional approval has delayed any attack, reportedly allowing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to move troops and military equipment to civilian areas.
Former CIA officer and Middle East specialist Reuel Marc Gerecht said, “I would imagine that the Syrians, since they have had so much time, have taken their materiel [the French term for military equipment] and put it in places that are not easily hit by a cruise missile. It would require fighter bombers to do that.”
And U.S. warplanes may be in the mix. An aircraft carrier is now within striking distance of Damascus.
Syrian opposition groups are concerned limited strikes will not tip the balance on the battlefield.
Khaled Saleh of the Syrian National Coalition wants regime change.
“It is time to move the power from the family, the mafia that controlled Syria for the last 40 years. Now it is time to move that power into the hands of the Syrian people,” said Saleh.
With Western warnings about its controversial nuclear program, Iran, too, is watching.
“If we do not do something in Syria, I think the odds of the Iranians taking us seriously are zero,” said Gerecht.
Polls show many war-weary Americans are opposed to involvement in Syria's civil war.
The president also has an uphill battle convincing Congress.
Senior analyst Michael O'Hanlon is more optimistic. “In the end, I don't believe the administration is going to get a lot of flak from the American public, from the Congress, or from the allies. On the other hand, if they miscalculate or something goes wrong, all bets are off.”
On Tuesday night Obama will address the American people, while the war in Syria grinds on.
************标题：VOA常速英语：US Navy Yard Shooting Highlights Military's Treatment of Mental Issues
听力内容：
The emotional state of the gunman in the Navy Yard shooting has emerged as a central element of the investigation, with questions being raised about why Navy contractor Aaron Alexis retained a security clearance despite a background of psychiatric problems.
The more investigators learn about Aaron Alexis from police, military, and medical records, the more questions come up about why he retained his security clearance and the badge that allowed him to enter a Naval building in the U.S. Capital and kill 12 people.
Rear Admiral John Kirby, a spokesman for the Navy, said this is among the matters being looked into.
"Investigators are looking at this background very carefully. We in the Navy are also taking a look at his time and service in the Navy to see if there is anything that we missed that maybe we need to have addressed a little bit differently, " said Kirby.
Alexis had run-ins with the police, including gun offenses and misconduct while he was in the Navy, and more recent reports of psychiatric problems. He told police recently that he was hearing voices, information that police say they relayed to the Navy.
He also sought treatment at a government-run medical facility for veterans.
That, before going to gun store and buying a weapon to carry out the shootings.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has announced a broad investigation to see where the system failed.
The shooting raises further questions about the military's screening for mental illness.
Last month, former Army intelligence analyst Bradley Manning, who had been diagnosed with gender identity and anxiety disorders, was sentenced for espionage for the largest leak of classified information in U.S. history.
Barbara Van Dahlen, a clinical psychologist, founded an organization that provides mental health services to veterans and believes the problem lies in recognizing the importance of mental health.
“Our country is not very good at recognizing mental health as part of overall health so it's not just a military issue. We don't often feel comfortable raising our hand and saying, 'gee, I'm depressed or I'm anxious. I need some help.' Within the military, even more so. There's an ethos of 'be tough, handle things,'” said Van Dahlen.
Alexis was never deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan and there are no indications he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. But Van Dahlen said reports of hallucinations and his recent visit to a hospital emergency room with complaints of insomnia could have triggered a closer look.
“You know, sleep disturbance often tells us, there's something going on, what is that about What is the agitation about And so we need to do a better job, and there's a lot of effort under way,” said Van Dahlen.
The Defense Department is now taking a hard look at how its screening process can spot warning signs. Secretary Hagel said the Pentagon will be looking for what went wrong and where.
“Why they didn't get picked up, why they didn't get incorporated into the clearance process, what he was doing, those are all legitimate questions that we're going to be dealing with,” said Hagel.
With Aaron Alexis, none of the problems, taken individually, was enough to revoke his building pass and security clearance. Now, officials are rethinking the process with the hopes of averting another tragedy.
************标题：VOA常速英语：US Fed Policies Send Stocks to Record Highs
听力内容：
U.S. stock prices reached new highs Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve said it would stay the course on efforts to stimulate the economy. And that rally could continue, despite the central bank's conclusion that the U.S. economic recovery still has a way to go before it becomes fully sustainable. Many economists were expecting the Fed to start scaling back its bond purchases this month as the economy recovers from the worst recession in decades.
Top central bank officials concluded two days of meetings Wednesday by doing something completely unexpected - nothing.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke summed up their findings - saying there would be no immediate change.
“As you already know from our statement, the committee decided today to keep the target range for the federal funds rate at zero to one-fourth percent and to make no change in either its asset purchase programs or its forward guidance regarding the federal funds rate target," said Bernanke.
The Federal Reserve has been buying $85 billion in bonds a month to stimulate the economy by keeping interest rates low.
Financial markets reacted almost instantly - sending stock prices sharply higher.
Not surprising says economics professor Steven Kyle. He spoke to VOA via Skype.
“Well, in the stock market, they're happy because that means that long-term interest rates will stay low. That's a good thing for stocks, and they can keep the party going a while longer," said Kyle.
But the decision to maintain the stimulus package confirms that the U.S. economy is not as robust as many hoped. Bernanke says the job market remains weak.
“Notably, at 7.3 percent, the unemployment rate remains well above acceptable levels. Long-term unemployment and underemployment remain high," he said.
Economist Joseph Gagnon at the Peterson Institute had predicted the tapering would not happen this month, partly because of intense market speculation, and partly because of the tepid economy.
“Things are not looking as good as they were three months ago, the last time they did a forecast. And part of that is the higher interest rates, which have risen because of this talk about tapering itself, is making the economy worse," said Gagnon.
Some say it's not a question of when the Fed will start tapering but by how much.
That could be more difficult given expectations that Bernanke will step down as Fed chairman when his term ends in January - says the Concord Coalition's Robert Bixby.
“It's going to be a difficult job because you're essentially unwinding a policy that somebody put in place and that's a difficult challenge," said Bixby.
Market experts say a more immediate problem may not be the size of the taper but whether Congress is able to agree on government spending levels or the size of the U.S. debt when budget negotiations begin later this month.
************标题：VOA慢速英语附字幕：美国的城市农场
听力内容：
From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语农业报道。
Farms are spreading to unused city lots and old properties across the United States. These urban farms grow crops in areas where people rarely buy fresh fruits and vegetables, they also have the power to change what people eat and the power to influence troubled neighborhoods.
农场正蔓延至美国未使用的城市土地和旧房。这些城市农场在人们很少能买到新鲜蔬果的地区种植作物。他们还能改变人们的饮食及问题社区。
Eco City Farms is an educational nonprofit organization in Prince George county, Maryland. It seeks to empower the community by teaching economic development, job training and a healthier way of living.
生态城农场位于马里兰州的乔治王子县，属于教育性的非盈利组织，旨在通过教导经济发展、就业培训和更为健康的生活方式以发展该社区。
The group has set up farms near automobile repair businesses and fast food stores in urban neighborhoods.
该组织在市区汽车维修企业和快餐店附近开办农场。
Social activist Margaret Morgan-Hubbard founded Eco City Farms. She says the the lack of fresh produce is a major health problem for children and their families who live in nearby Bladensburg, Maryland.
社会活动家Margaret Morgan-Hubbard创立了生态城农场。她称缺乏新鲜农产品是居住于马里兰州布莱登斯堡附近的儿童及其家人面临的主要健康问题。
"What's critical is that 70 percent of the people in these towns are either overweight, obese, have diabetes or other kinds of diet-related ailments because they don't have access to healthy food."
“因为未获得健康食品，这些城镇居民70%患有超重、肥胖、糖尿病等与饮食相关的疾病，这很严重。”
Eco City Farms offer several programs, including educational activists on agriculture, food, and finding jobs with environmentally-friendly businesses.
生态城农场提出几种计划，包括派遣教育活动家至农业、食品领域，以及求职于环保企业。
People can also learn how to cook healthier foods and teach others how to prepare meals. On a recent day, Philip Sidibe demonstrated his cooking skills. He prepared Aloco, a popular food in Cameroon where he grew up.
人们还能学习烹饪更为健康的食物，并教其他人烹饪。最近一天，Philip Sidibe展示了其烹饪技术。他烹饪了Aloco，这在他的家乡喀麦隆是一种常见食物。
He and other young people not only cook their food, they also grow it in a large garden next to the Autumn Woods Apartments. The apartments are home to 1,000 people, but the community has just one small store.
他和其他年轻人不仅烹饪食物，还在“秋天之树”公寓附近的大花园里种植作物。这所公寓住着1000人却只有一个小商店。
Tameka Barbour-Gaskins lives in Autumn Woods. She says her whole family is eating healthier meals because of the local produce.
Tameka Barbour-Gaskins住在“秋天之树”。她说，因为这些农特产，他们全家都吃上了健康餐。
"I like junk food. I like quick meals. Not easy to just go from eating a certain way all your life to switching over to being healthier... With the garden here, with my son learning, he can help me switch around my style of eating. I want a healthy family."
“我喜欢吃垃圾食品和快餐。这种长久固定的饮食方式难以转至健康饮食。但这些花园及儿子对健康烹饪的学习可以帮我改变饮食方式。我想要健康的家庭。”
Margaret Morgan-Hubbard says the urban garden is an agent for change and the young people are its newest supporters.
Margaret Morgan-Hubbard称，城市花园是变革的代理者，年轻人则是其最新的支持者。
"Our program is about planting seeds. It's about planting seeds not just in the ground, but in other human beings so that the movement can grow and it's really exciting because... these young people will be working with us throughout the year to help plan the actual farm and to ultimately own it."
“我们的计划是播种，不仅播种到土里，还播种到人们心里，那么该变革才能扩展。这真令人兴奋，因为这些年轻人将全年与我们合作，帮助规划实际的农场，并最终实现。”
She says this means not only farming food, but also making that food available to people who live in the community.
她称这不仅意味着种植作物，还使那些住在社区的人们能够获得食物。
And that's the Agriculture Report from VOA Learning English. I'm Christopher Cruise.
以上是美国之音慢速英语农业报道，我是Christopher Cruise。
************标题：VOA常速英语：Top 5 Songs for Week Ending September 14
听力内容：
We're making our way through the five most popular songs in the Billboard Magazine Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending September 14, 2013.
Our lineup has something for everybody: if you liked last week's songs, you won't be disappointed, since they primarily trade places. If you like new sounds, you're also covered, with one single re-entering and another debuting.
Let's start in fifth place, where Jay Z and Justin Timberlake rebound a slot with “Holy Grail.” Jay made business headlines this week - he announced he is selling his share in the Brooklyn Nets basketball team after nearly a decade of ownership - he must, since he now also represents athletes as a certified agent with Roc Nation Sports.
Miley Cyrus dips a notch to fourth place with “We Can't Stop,” but no matter - the girl just scored a major TV victory. She'll host the October 5 episode of perennial audience favorite Saturday Night Live. Needless to say, she's also the musical guest.
We have a debut in third place, and what a debut it is: Eminem returns with “Berzerk.” Produced by bearded hit maker Rick Rubin, it samples tunes from 1980s rock favorite Billy Squier and hip-hop greats the Beastie Boys. Eminem drops The Marshall Mathers LP 2 on November 5.
We have a new champion single - something that hasn't happened since June. Twelve-week champs Robin Thicke, T.I. and Pharrel fall to second place with “Blurred Lines.” You may be interested to know that in addition to topping the Hot 100, “Blurred Lines” went to number one in nine other countries, including Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Who knocks Robin Thicke out of the box Katy Perry, that's who. “Roar” hits the jackpot by climbing that all-important final step. This is Katy's eighth career U.S. singles win…in only five years. Her fourth studio album Prism arrives on October 22.
Can Katy hold the gold We'll find out next e back and say hello.
************标题：VOA常速英语：US Forces Poised to Strike If Syria Diplomacy Fails
听力内容：
As the United States and Russia engage in diplomatic efforts for the government of Syrian leader Bashar al Assad to hand over its chemical weapons, U.S. forces remain poised to strike and they're standing by with more than just military hardware.
Despite the intensifying diplomatic efforts on Syria, four U.S. destroyers are staying in their positions in the eastern Mediterranean, with scores of Tomahawk missiles ready to fire.
Speaking to an audience at the National Defense University, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said there has been no change in plans for the vessels.
"I guarantee you that if we are called upon to strike, we will strike hard and we will strike fast," said Mabus.
Ships and cruise missiles are among a wide range of options the Pentagon has ready, if and when the order comes from the White House to strike.
Cyber defenses are also an important component of the strike plan.
Pro-Assad forces have been launching cyber attacks against U.S. targets and are blamed for the recent hacking of a U.S. Marines recruiting website.
Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Damien Pickart says the United States has been training its cyber forces to be equipped and ready to deal with any threat.
“If any nation or group chooses to use cyberspace against the interests of the United States or against the United States, we will use our cyber forces to prepare to defend ourselves and provide appropriate responses," said Pickart.
Details of the plans for a cyber offensive are a closely guarded secret, says defense analyst Anthony Cordesman:
“To know how dependent the Syrian government really is on systems that can be affected by cyber warfare is one of the most sensitive areas of intelligence that we have. And the thing that you also have to remember is you do not want in a limited case to give away anything like the most sophisticated capabilities you have because you provide a detailed warning in terms of far more serious contingencies," said Cordesman.
For now, U.S. ships are standing by near Syria as a show of force. The carrier USS Nimitz is on an extended assignment in the Red Sea for at least a few more days.
************标题：VOA常速英语：Top 5 Songs for Week Ending September 7
听力内容：
We're sharing the five most popular songs on the Billboard Magazine Hot 100 pop singles chart, for the week ending September 7, 2013.
Last week, Katy Perry steamrolled her way to second place with “Roar.” Does she go the distance this week The answer's on the way. First, let's check in with Imagine Dragons, slipping a slot to number five with “Radioactive.” In the long run, however, this Las Vegas rock band has a winner: it's the United States' third most-downloaded song of 2013, behind Macklemore's “Thrift Shop” and Robin Thicke's “Blurred Lines.”
Jumping two slots to number four is Lady Gaga and “Applause” - Gaga's 12th Top 10 single in only five years. Has this colorful singer ever hit number one on the Hot 100 The answer: yes, three times. She hit the jackpot with “Just Dance,” “Poker Face,” and “Born This Way.”
Holding steady at number three is shy, retiring Miley Cyrus with "We Can't Stop" - hey, just kidding! The 20-year-old singer's controversial performance at the August 25 MTV Awards ceremony has legitimized the term “twerking.” The saucy, rump-shaking dance has now officially entered the Oxford English Dictionary.
While you recover from that piece of news, let's catch up with Katy Perry, whose “Roar” holds at number two. Last week, Katy threatened to highjack the Hot 100, as “Roar” zoomed from 85th to second place. This week, she stops for a breather before attempting the final ascent. Her Prism album arrives on October 22 in the United States.
That means the winner and still champion is none other than Robin Thicke. He shares the title with T.I. and Pharrell for a 12th straight week with “Blurred Lines.”
Only four other songs have held the gold for 12 weeks - the latest being “Boom Boom Pow” by the Black Eyed Peas, back in 2009.
Will they make it 13 weeks We'll find out in seven short days.
************标题：VOA常速英语：US Congressional Vote On Syria Faces Tough Road
听力内容：
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives has begun considering whether to authorize U.S. military force against Syria in response to last month's chemical attack that killed more than a thousand people. Experts said estimates of how the 435 members of the House are likely to vote show that President Barack Obama may face his toughest legislative battle yet - and one with the highest stakes for U.S. credibility.
Referring to the horrific images of the chemical weapons attack, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told committee members that the world is watching. “The world is not just watching to see what we decide here, but the world is really watching to see how we decide, frankly, whether or not we can still make or achieve a single voice speaking for the United States of America,” Kerry said.
The committee's ranking Democratic member, Congressman Eliot Engel, agreed. “The issue we confront today is much bigger than the use of chemical weapons in Syria. We are talking about the credibility of America as a global power,” he said.
But some members, including Republican Michael McCaul of Texas, voiced concern about authorizing military action because of the make-up of the Syrian rebels. “My concern is that any strike against this regime, as bad as it is, will empower these radical Islamists, these extremists, and we have seen this movie before,” he noted.
Political analyst Stuart Rothenberg said informal tallies of House members suggest that a resolution authorizing military force will be difficult, but not impossible, to pass.
"Presidents have a way of twisting arms and begging and pleading and promising right before a vote," he said. "And they often succeed narrowly. But this is not, not, a foregone conclusion."
House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, said he will vote for the resolution, and called on members to join him. But Boehner has faced repeated uprisings among his ranks.
"This is not party line government where the Republican leader of the House simply says vote this way and the rank and file do. In fact, these days, whatever Boehner says, you can count on 30 or 40 House Republicans doing the exact opposite," stated Rothenberg.
Rothenberg said we are likely to see unexpected coalitions."This is one of those odd cases where you are going to have a very confusing coalition, with isolationist, libertarian Republicans joining very liberal Democrats who traditionally oppose additional spending on military and defense - those two groups coming together to oppose giving the president authority to strike Syria," he explained. "And you are going to have a mixture of Republicans and Democrats, many moderates, but also a handful of strong liberals and strong conservatives supporting the president."
The world will likely be watching when the full House and Senate return to the Capitol next week to focus on Syria.
************September is a month where some U.S. cities see a large decrease in tourism as the busy summer travel season ends. But the September slump goes unnoticed in New York. That’s due in part to large events throughout the month, such as the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Fashion Week and the United Nations General Assembly.
9月份，夏天旅游旺季结束了，一些美国城市的旅游业大量减少，可是9月份的纽约却一如既往，整个月都有大型活动，比如美国网球公开赛、时装周和联合国大会。
The city that never sleeps has been as busy as ever during this year’s U.N. General Assembly.
今年的联合国大会使得不夜城纽约市一如既往的繁忙。
And shop managers nearby, like Mohammed Elassa, couldn’t be happier.
和穆罕默德 埃雷萨一样，联大附近的商店经理乐不可支。
“It’s the only time we make a lot of money. Better than Christmas. Better than everything,” said Elassa.
埃雷萨说：“这是我唯一大赚特赚的时候，比圣诞节还好，比任何时候都好。”
Watches, shoes – it’s all going fast to international shoppers.
外国顾客买了很多手表和鞋子。
“I wish every month they [could] have the Assembly General at the United Nations. I wish. If it [were] every month we [would] make a lot of money. My boss is going to be very happy,” said Elassa.
埃雷萨说：“我希望联合国每个月都开一次大会，如果每个月都这样，我们会赚很多钱，我的老板会非常开心。”
Jene Gillis-Harry came to work at the General Assembly this month from Nigeria.
这个月，来自尼日利亚的吉内 哈里到联大来工作。
“You see so many things to buy. Having to decide on one is quite difficult,” said Gillis-Harry.
他说：“要买的东西很多，很难选择。”
A few blocks away, business is booming at the Roger Smith Hotel. The hotel can even command a higher rate due to the heavy General Assembly traffic, according to Hotel Digital Marketing Director John Knowles.
几条街以外，罗杰 史密斯饭店的生意兴隆，这家饭店的市场销售经理约翰 诺尔斯说，因为联大带来的大量人流量，饭店甚至可以提高价格。
“We are the cross-section of the U.N. - so it’s a lot of people, a lot of business, a lot of traffic,” said Knowles.
诺尔斯说：“我们位于联合国的十字路口，所以有很多客人，很多生意，很多流量。”
Nearby, Little Italy Pizza is bringing in the cash. The shop delivers to the General Assembly and feeds tourists in the restaurant -- tourists that New Yorker Adrienne Russo says she’s used to seeing.
附近的小意大利比萨店也在不断赚钱，这家店为联大送外卖，还有很多顾客上门。纽约人艾德里安 卢索说，她对游客习以为常。
“My street is jam packed because I’m seven blocks from the U.N., so when you go in a restaurant, it’s hard to get a seat, and that’s what September is in New York, every year,” said Russo.
卢索说：“我的街离开联合国总部7个街区，拥挤不堪，你去饭店，很难找到位子，每年9月纽约都是这样。”
Whether selling a slice of pizza, a shirt, or a place to sleep, it’s clear here that the annual gathering is a big help to September sales.
很显然每年的联大对9月分的销售，不管是卖比萨饼、T恤，还是找住宿，都是一大帮助。
************标题：VOA常速英语：Top Diplomats to Meet on Iran’s Nuclear Program
听力内容：
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif are scheduled to meet Thursday to start high-level negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. The talks at the United Nations are fueling cautious hope for progress after a decade of failed diplomacy.
On Twitter this week, Iran's new foreign minister, Zarif, said the opportunity to resolve the nuclear issue is historic. Zarif received his higher education in America and speaks fluent English. He will lead Iran's nuclear talks with the five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany.
He's been continuing the charm offensive launched by Iran's new President Hassan Rouhani. “Iran seeks constructive engagement with other countries based on mutual respect and common interest and within the same framework does not seek to increase tensions with the United States,” said Rouhani.
U.S. President Barack Obama says the diplomatic path must be tested. “Given President Rouhani's stated commitment to reach an agreement, I am directing John Kerry to pursue this effort with the Iranian government.”
Iran's economy, after multiple rounds of sanctions, is in serious trouble.
And that, said analyst Alex Vatanka, is spurring Iranian efforts to improve relations. “What I heard from President Obama, we have been hearing from President Rouhani and the Iranian supreme leader is that 'look, we are bleeding and you are tired of all the conflicts in the Middle East, we both have a reason, with whatever incentives we come to the table, we want a solution, let's see if we can talk.'”
Although hopes for a handshake between the top leaders did not materialize, American and Iranian diplomacy appears to have reached a new level, at least for now.
Mark Fitzpatrick is a top Iran watcher in London. “For the time being, the talk of war is off the table. I mean, it's in the background. And, if diplomacy is not able to settle this problem by next summer, I think, unfortunately, the prospects for war will be back on the table.”
Despite the diplomacy, skeptics say actions will speak louder than words.
Analyst Matthew Levitt at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said, “Iran is reportedly increasing its support for the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. It is doubling down in support of the Assad regime in Syria. And its proxy Hezbollah continues to try and carry out attacks on Israeli tourists around the world. So there is a disconnect between the words and the actions right now and we need to see them merge.”
Iran says it will never develop nuclear weapons - a pledge Western nations do not trust.
The stakes are high according to Iran analyst Patrick Clawson. “This is a moment of great hope, but also, frankly, a moment of considerable danger because if we don't reach an agreement with Rouhani we will never reach an agreement with Iran. And it is still unclear if the terms that he will accept overlap with the terms that we will insist upon.”
A senior U.S. official says the steps taken by Iran in the weeks ahead will determine how successful diplomacy will be.
************标题：VOA常速英语：US Military Leaders Lay Out Goals for Syria Attack
听力内容：
With destroyers and other assets positioned to strike Syria, U.S. military leaders have laid out their goals if there is an attack. Officials are weighing the scenarios that could follow the first shot.
The U.S. aim is to weaken Syria's defenses enough to eventually bring about the negotiated departure of Bashar al-Assad.
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told senators the proportionate and limited strike that he would be in charge of would be a first step.
“To deter, that is to say change the regime's calculus about thee use of chemical weapons, and degrade his ability to do so,” he said.
To do that, the U.S. has Tomahawk missiles ready to hit Syrian government targets. About 40 of the missiles are aboard each of four destroyers that are deployed to the eastern Mediterranean.
The U.S. has doubled the number of vessels in the region. The Nimitz aircraft carrier group is nearby in the Red Sea, ready to be called into action.
The administration rules out wider action for now. But observers say, once the United States fires the first missile, Washington becomes a participant in Syria's civil war, and a promise to stay out of the conflict becomes difficult to keep.
“Right now we are denying that we want to overthrow the regime, but the fact is when you are bombing targets, government targets in Syria, and there are rebels trying to overthrow the government, you are, whether you say it or not, trying to overthrow the government. But you're only doing it a little bit,” said Cato analyst Benjamin Friedman.
If Syria's chemical weapons were to fall into the hands of militants or if there were complete chaos, Secretary of State John Kerry told Senators he would want the president to have the option of putting U.S. troops on the ground, but he added, quickly, that was only a hypothetical statement.
A strike could last a few hours or a few days, but Pentagon planners are ready for possible wider consequences.
U.S. forces have little to expect in terms of a response from Syria's comparatively weak military. They would watch for a possible retaliation by Iran-backed Hezbollah and other militant groups that could launch attacks against Israel and other U.S. allies in the region.
************标题：VOA常速英语：Top US, Russian Diplomats to Discuss Syria
听力内容：
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Thursday with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Geneva, to discuss a new initiative that could end the threat of U.S. airstrikes against Syria. This after a casual comment by the secretary about Syria's chemical weapons led Lavrov to go public with an idea the U.S. and Russia had talked about privately. But experts question whether this is a real breakthrough, or if Syria and its ally Russia will use diplomacy to divert attention from the alleged large-scale chemical weapons attack last month.
It was at a news conference Monday in London when a reporter asked Secretary Kerry whether there was anything Syria could do to avoid an attack.
“Sure, he can turn over every single bit of his chemical weapons to the international community in the next week," he said. "Turn it over, all of it.”
But the secretary immediately made clear he was speaking theoretically and did not expect anything like that to happen.
“But he is not about to do it," he said. "And it can not be done, obviously.”
Or can it The Russian foreign minister saw an opportunity in the secretary's remark, welcoming it at a Moscow news conference. His Syrian counterpart said Damascus might go along.
"I am authorized to confirm our support for the Russian initiative concerning the chemical weapons in Syria,” said Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.
It was a startling 24 hours. But were the Syrians and Russians truly embracing the plan, or are they stalling for time
International security expert Joanna Kidd, of London's King's College, says Syria relies on its chemical weapons as a pillar of its defense, and it would be reluctant to truly give them up.
“It is a job that would take several months to do," she said. "And of course, one should not forget that obviously there is a civil war going on in Syria that would greatly complicate the process.”
That war has been raging for two-and-a-half years. But it was the alleged chemical weapons attack last month, which the United States says it can prove was ordered by senior Syrian officials, that led to President Barack Obama's threat to launch airstrikes, and now the Russian and Syrian effort to avoid them.
Paul Schulte, a London-based chemical weapons analyst of the Carnegie Endowment, says a chemical attack should result in a strong international response, and he's not sure if the Russian approach will suffice.
“The Russian plan, which might be a wild card or might be a game-changer, is still very unclear, and there is a lot of skepticism about whether it could ever work,” he said.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in The Hague, could provide inspectors to verify new controls on Syria's chemical weapons. But there may not be enough of them, and they may not be willing to work in the middle of a civil war.
It could take months to negotiate the details, while the civil war rages on, and the potential for U.S. airstrikes looms. But as long as Russia is championing Syria's new talk of joining the global ban on chemical weapons, the Damascus government may find it difficult to use them again.
************标题：VOA常速英语：US Doctors Aid Syrians With 'Virtual Surgery'
听力内容：
A field hospital near Aleppo was destroyed Wednesday by shelling, killing the six medical personnel inside, and patients. The Syrian American Medical Society says that hospital was the third that has been destroyed in the town in two years - in a war that has killed more than 100,000 people. A group of surgeons in the United States - through the Union of Syrian Medical Relief Organizations and the Syrian American Medical Society - is assisting with the increasing medical needs - without ever entering a Syrian operating room.
A secret Skype surgery session was made available for this exclusive report. We should warn you, this story contains some graphic images that may offend sensitive viewers.
This patient will never know that his destiny lies in the expertise of a man 9,400 kilometers away. The 19-year-old took a bullet to the leg.
“He hasn't been able to walk since,” said a doctor.
Assisting from States
Neither the surgeon nor a visiting British doctor in Syria has expertise in peripheral nerve damage. So in the midst of war, they are consulting via Skype with Dr. Abdalmajid Katranji, a hand surgeon - in the Midwestern U.S. state of Michigan.
“What type of nerve graft are you using ” asked Katranji. He had volunteered at the same hospital during visits to Syria. “I've operated in a kitchen. I've operated in a warehouse. In a greenery, in a converted school,” he said.
This northern Syria hospital has been bombed three times, including this near hit, caught on tape. The doctors want a no-fly zone over all hospitals. They say the death of one doctor knocks out an entire health-care system.
Dr. Jomaa is the director of the Bab al Hawa Hospital. His operating room works around the clock. Ten surgeries a day - many with assistance from overseas.
"Sometimes we get sophisticated cases. So we consult with doctors in the West and soon we will have an intensive care unit and radiology," said Jomaa.
Aiding surgery procedures
Katranji and other U.S. doctors monitor as many as five surgeries a day in different field hospitals. He consults on a baby with shrapnel wounds. They used a portion of a metal bed to set her little arm.
Doctors find themselves playing God - deciding who should die and who should live, based solely on the lack of supplies. Katranji thinks people should see the Syrian conflict through a surgeon's eyes.
“As people hear all the political noise, they really have to eliminate it and start looking at the human equation here. You just heard a doctor say he doesn't look at people's ID badges. He just needs to be able to deliver care and deliver care safely,” said Katranji
In this office, Katranji runs a hectic hand practice, and he weaves in Syrian assistance when he can.
This woman caught her finger in a chain.
“Does this hurt ”
“A little”
Invaluable help
Katranji has his staff tape the quick procedure, then upload it to Syria. He says field doctors typically cut off fingertips to save time. He wants to show them they don't have to.
“The benefit of having all your fingers, even fingertips, far exceeds the challenge of amputation,” he said.
In between patients, he joins a Syrian Facebook discussion. Then he joins a conference call to lobby Congressman Keith Ellison, urging him to vote for U.S. intervention.
“Abdalmajid, what can I say, man, but you've been on the front lines. You're my idea of a credible witness,” said Ellison.
His practice is running late.
"It was stiff most of the day, but again it's feeling much better."
Another check of his iPhone. His medical advice is needed again - Syria is calling.
************标题：VOA常速英语：US Kart Racing Provides Big Thrills at Indoor Tracks
听力内容：
Americans love recreation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports household budgets for entertainment are triple that of money spent on education. With a population ever-eager to find family-friendly fun, activity outlets are popping up throughout the United States. Fun can come in small packages, and at high speeds, when you're talking about kart racing.
They're fast. Really fast.
One race, Learic Cramer, said, “They're about 50 miles per hour if you can get them up to that.”
That's around 80 kilometers per hour, and for most recreational racers this is as good as it gets.
“This is real racing; not for the faint of heart. It is hands-down some of the coolest stuff you can do in Maryland,” said Jordan Wallace at Autobahn Indoor Speedway.
“Anything with four wheels that goes fast… I'm up for it,” said Cramer.
Speed racers
The karts racing around this indoor track are not your traditional home-made go-cart.
“You don't have a lawnmower engine. We've got a 20-horsepower electric motor on them. When you take away the emissions issue, you can be inside, and that's awesome,” said Wallace.
Because inside means air conditioning and also that weather is a non-factor. Aside from that, though, these things move extremely quickly.
“You're one with the kart. You feel the g-forces in the turns. You get pushed back in the seat,” said racer Bradley Boschulte.
“Forget your Porsches, forget your Ferraris, forget your Lambos [Lamborghinis]… these karts will whip them around a corner. It's crazy,” said Wallace.
Not to worry if “crazy” is not your ideal speed. The designers of these machines had everyone in mind.
Ken Fitzgerald, another racer, said, “The advantage they have with the electric go karts is they can put you on a slower setting to try it.”
“This kart track is for people ages eight to 80. It doesn't matter who you are. As long as you're not pregnant or have a heart issue, you're good to go,” said Wallace.
“He [meaning his son, Dylan, sitting beside him] does wrestling and that's a little more scarier than being out here,” said Fitzgerald.
Action lovers
Like most action sports, it really comes down to one thing.
“Adrenaline. Speed. The thrill of doing something different and trying to get your personal best,” said Cramer.
“You got a lot of adrenaline going through your blood,” said Boschulte.
“You should definitely try it. It's awesome,” said Dylan Fitzgerald.
A single race will cost $20 for about 10 minutes on the track. And while there is a discount for buying two tickets, the pros [professionals] warn of pitfalls in bringing a date to a race.
“One is you outrun her big time, and she's just awful at it. Or what's worse is you get your butt whupped [get beaten] by her… and all of us that work here are talking about it on the radio the entire time it's happening. It's hilarious,” said Wallace.
And remember, they say, this is something not to be tried at home.
“Don't tell the cops, but I do it on the streets, too,” said Cramer.
Which may be reason enough to buckle up.
************From VOA Learning English, this is In The News.
这里是美国之音慢速英语新闻报道。
This week, a United States Senate committee voted in support of a possible American military strike against Syria. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a proposed resolution by a vote of 10 to seven. The resolution gives President Barack Obama power to take military action against Syria because the United States says the Syrian government used chemical weapons against civilians. The resolution calls for limited U.S. action lasting no more than 90 days. It does not permit the use of American ground troops in Syria.
本周，美国参议院委员会通过投票支持美军对叙利亚可能的军事打击。参议院外交关系委员会以10:7的投票通过决议，因为美国称叙利亚政府使用化武对付平民，该决议给总统巴拉克·奥巴马对叙利亚采取军事行动的权力。该决议呼吁将美国的行动限制在90天之内，同时不允许对叙利亚派出美国地面部队。
The resolution now goes to the full Senate. The House of Representatives must also vote on it.
该决议现在提交到了参议院进行全体表决。众议院也将对此投票。
The Senate committee vote came less than a week after United Nations chemical weapons inspectors left Syria. U.N. officials sent the inspection team to investigate an attack that took place 10 days earlier. American officials say more than 1,400 people were killed in the attack, near Damascus.
该参议院委员会表决是在联合国化学武器核查人员离开叙利亚不到一周的时间内。联合国官员派出核查小组调查十天前发生的一起袭击。美国官员表示，在大马士革附近发生的这起袭击造成了1400多人死亡。
The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denies using chemical weapons. It says Syrian rebels used them against government soldiers.
叙利亚总统巴沙尔·阿萨德的政府否认使用化武，称是叙利亚叛军用来对付政府军的。
Last Saturday, President Obama spoke to Americans and the world about Syria. He said U.S. intelligence is clear that “well over 1,000 people” were killed -- gassed to death by their own government. He denounced what he called the worst chemical weapons attack of the 21st century.
上周六，总统奥巴马就叙利亚向美国和全世界发表讲话。他说美国情报明确表明，有1000多人被杀，被自己的政府用毒气杀死。他谴责称这是21世纪最残暴的化学武器袭击。
President Obama and some leading lawmakers have expressed strong support for military strikes against Syria. But a recent study found that 59 percent of Americans questioned oppose the idea.
奥巴马总统和一些主要国会议员强烈支持对叙利亚展开军事打击。但最近的一项调查发现，59%被调查的美国人反对这一想法。
Christopher Hill is a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq and a former special representative to Kosovo. He supports limited military action against Syria. He says the world needs to send a strong signal that anyone who uses chemical weapons will be punished.
克里斯托弗·希尔（Christopher Hill）是前美国驻伊拉克大使，也是前驻科索沃特使，他支持对叙利亚进行有限的军事打击。他说全世界应该发出有力的信号，即任何使用化武的人都应该受到惩罚。
“But the problem is we don’t have an overall way forward on Syria. People are out there fighting in Syria, either on Assad’s forces or against Assad, because they have no idea what the future of the country is going to hold and therefore they feel that in order to safeguard their future, they need to fight.”
希尔先生说，“但问题是我们在叙利亚问题上没有全面解决途径。人们在叙利亚奋战，不论是政府军还是反政府军。因为他们不知道叙利亚的未来如何，所以他们觉得，为了保障他们的未来就得打仗。”
Retired U.S. Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni agrees with Mr. Hill. General Zinni headed “Operation Desert Fox,” a series of strikes against Iraq in 1998. He says American military action will strengthen rebel forces allied with al-Qaida.
退役海军陆战队将军安东尼·津尼（Anthony Zinni）认同希尔的话，1998年，津尼将军领导对伊拉克的名为“沙漠之狐行动”的系列打击。他说，美国的军事行动将有助于增强与基地组织为盟的叛军的力量。
“Any strikes on Assad weaken him. When you weaken him, you strengthen the opposition. Those extremists are also part of the opposition.”
津尼将军说：“任何对阿萨德的打击都会削弱他的实力。而当你削弱阿萨德的实力，就加强了反对派的实力。那些极端分子也是反对派的一部分。”
Some experts say a U.S. military strike might incite the Shi’ite militant group Hezbollah to attack Western targets or Israel. Others say the Syrian military might use more chemical weapons against rebels and civilians.
有的专家认为，美国的军事打击可能会煽动什叶派武装组织真主党袭击西方国家或以色列。也有人说叙利亚军队或许会使用更多化学武器来对付叛军和平民。
General Zinni says the situation is like a theatrical production.
津尼将军说现状就像是一出戏剧作品。
“Once Assad goes -- when, and if -- this could even be a greater mess than it is now. I mean, this civil war isn’t over because it will have an ‘Act Two’ to it.”
这位前将军说，一旦总统阿萨德离去，那么第二幕将是叙利亚反对派组织之间的斗争。
The former general says that “act” could see Syrian opposition groups fighting each other after President Assad is gone.
津尼将军说的第二场可以看作是叙利亚各反对派在阿萨德倒台后互相争斗。
************标题：VOA常速英语：US Lawmakers Seek Surveillance Reform
听力内容：
U.S. senators in both parties are proposing changes in the way the National Security Agency collects information as it hunts for terrorists and other threats. Some lawmakers want to limit or end the bulk collection of telephone and email records.
The recent siege at a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, is reason for the National Security Agency to continue its information-gathering activities, according to the NSA's director.
At a cybersecurity seminar in Washington, General Keith Alexander said his agency needs the tools to prevent such attacks on the United States.
"If you take those away, think about the last week, and what will happen in the future. My concern is, if you think it is bad now, we get several things that happened in Nairobi in this country, and we have a whole different ball game. And we will have failed," said Alexander.
Since former NSA contractor Edward Snowden revealed this year that the NSA has been gathering phone and email records of Americans as well as people overseas, there have been objections at home and abroad.
Members of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee are working on legislation that would either limit the practice or eliminate it.
Democratic Senator Ron Wyden wants to end the massive collection of phone and email records.
"Dozens of misleading public statements made by top intelligence officials have now damaged the credibility of the leadership in the intelligence community at home and abroad. Foreign governments and their citizens are finding their trust in the government to be compromised. This is not a small hiccup," said Wyden.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff canceled a state visit to the White House over the issue. She criticized the U.S. in a speech before the United Nations General Assembly.
"The safety of a citizen of one country should not be guaranteed by the violation of human and civil rights which are fundamental to citizens of another country," said Rousseff.
But General Alexander says many Americans who oppose the NSA's collection of phone and email records are being misled by inaccurate reports in the media.
At the cybersecurity seminar, he said the NSA is not collecting content from the phone calls or emails it monitors.
He also said U.S. allies appreciate the data gathering because it also protects their countries from terror attacks.
"Many people have asked me, how has this impacted your relationship with allies Here is what I get: 'Keep working with us," he said. "The intelligence you get us to defend our country is what we really need.'"
The Senate committee's chairman, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, says the NSA should continue gathering phone and email records. She favors a less restrictive bill that would bar the NSA from collecting the content of phone calls and email messages.
************标题：VOA常速英语：UN Envoy Optimistic about Somalia
听力内容：
The U.N. Special Representative for Somalia says the country is on the “brink of achieving great things” – but warns the situation remains precarious and success is not guaranteed. On Thursday, Nicholas Kay briefed the Security Council for the first time since he assumed the post three months ago.
The Special Representative to the Secretary-General began his briefing by answering the question that he says he hears the most: Is he optimistic about Somalia The answer, he says, is a “resounding yes.”
“Behind the twists and turns, the crises and the standoffs, Somalia has the foundations for progress. The international community is united behind a credible, legitimate federal government. There are resources available to meet the most immediate needs. There is the political will to compromise and manage disputes without resorting to violence. And the Somali people I have met are tired of war and deprivation, fed up with brinkmanship and predatory politics.”
One of the “key tasks facing Somalia,” he said, is agreement of a final federal constitution.
“The U.N. is supporting a broad process of popular consultations, which should clarify several key areas that remain contentious. A long, hard process of consultation and negotiation lies ahead, which we shall support. On second of September, UNSOM backed the launch of a national political conference entitled Vision 2016, at which the President of Somalia restated his commitment to a new constitution and elections by 2016,” he said.
UNSOM is the U.N. Assistance Mission in Somalia.
The Somali Federal Government has just celebrated its one-year anniversary. Kay says “another key building block” for the country's stabilization is about to be put in place. The European Union and the Somali government will host some 200 delegates Monday regarding the New Deal Compact. Kay described it as a Somali-led and Somali-owned set of priorities.
Other than politics, much of his focus has been on security. He says UNSOM's presence in Mogadishu is “to a large extent only possible because of AMISOM” – The African Union Mission in Somalia. It has played the major role in pushing back the Qaeda-linked militant group.
“The military and security dimension of defeating al Shabab in Somalia is by no means over. The Somali national army is ready to do its part and must be properly backed. I call on the Council to ensure more priority is given to strengthening the Somali national security forces and their ability to deploy and sustain joint operations with AMISOM,” said Kay.
While Somalia is no longer called the world's worst humanitarian crisis, it still faces many challenges. Lack of access to insecure areas has led to the spread of polio. Somalia now has at least 160 confirmed cases, half the world's total.
Kay also said despite some improvements, the food security situation remains precarious.
“For the first time in five years, the number of people in crisis is below one-million, but the number of people on the margin of food insecurity has increased to 2.3-million people. This may be further exacerbated if the lifeline of Somali diaspora remittances is cut by international banks.”
He also addressed the issue of widespread attacks on women and girls in Somalia.
“Sexual violence in Somalia is one of the most serious and urgent human rights challenges facing the government and people. The commitment of both the Somali president and the leadership of AMISOM to a policy of zero-tolerance of sexual abuse is encouraging. However, it is clear that there need to be much more robust systems of investigation and prosecution, including the protection of survivors and witnesses.”
As for piracy, it's on the decline off the Somali coast. But Kay said the “onshore networks that have profited from it have not been dismantled.”
“Law enforcement and correction systems on land, as well as job opportunities, must be supported so that we treat the root causes of the problem. At a conference hosted by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai, a maritime strategy covering security and sustainable resource management was strongly endorsed,” he said.
International naval patrols have prevented many pirate attacks on cargo ships and oil tankers.
There are still about one-million Somali refugees in neighboring countries. However, the U.N. special representative said it is not time for a full-scale repatriation.
He said for Somali to succeed more resources are needed for U.N. staff, national security forces and AMISOM, adding that “failure in Somalia still is a risk”…a risk the world “cannot afford.”
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