The United States is seeking to build an international alliance to stop the threat from Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. The State Department announced this week that U.S. officials are working to put together a coalition of countries from Europe, the Arab world and other areas. The Departments Jen Psaki says these nations could work jointly against the militants in a number of ways.
Theres humanitarian, military, intelligence, diplomatic, and we know this is an effort that is going to require a significant focus and all hands on deck not just the United States, but a range of countries.
The United States has begun flying military aircraft over Syria to watch Islamic State fighters. The Sunni Muslim extremists executed American reporter James Foley earlier this month.
Since then, there have been mixed messages coming out of Washington about whether Islamic State militants could attack the United States. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has called the group, an imminent threat. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham warned that the militants are willing and able to hit the homeland. But are these threats overstated?
At least one terrorism expert has noted stronger ties between the Islamic State and the group called al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. Max Abrahms teaches at Northeastern University in Massachusetts. He says al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula may be smaller than the Islamic State, but he thinks it is better at making bombs. He says the concern is that the IS militants may be influenced by the al-Qaida group and then strike Western countries.
But other experts believe it is too soon to talk about threats to the U.S. homeland. Daniel Benjamin formerly served as the State Departments anti-terrorism coordinator during the presidency of Bill Clinton.
At this point, this group is overwhelmingly an insurgent group focused on holding territory in Iraq, in killing Shia and in stoking the sectarian conflict in that region.
Daniel Benjamin says the Islamic State has no experience with what he calls out-of-the-area attacks. He adds that such attacks are much more difficult to carry out than most people realize.
It takes a great deal of training and practice and expertise. It takes people who understand how to deal with masking their identities, with exercising a great deal of communications security and other aspects of operational security.
He also says the United States has time to develop a long-term plan for containing and limiting the ability of Islamic State fighters.
The U.S. military has helped Iraqi and Kurdish forces regain territory captured by the fighters. The military also has increased airstrikes against the IS forces in Iraq.
For days, U.S. officials have talked about expanding the airstrikes to Syria. It appears, however, that such action may be delayed. On Thursday, President Barack Obama told reporters that he is still developing a plan to deal with the militants.
The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said it welcomes U.S. help with the Islamic State. But Syria has warned that bombing IS targets without its permission would represent an act of aggression.
The Obama administration rejected the idea that it is cooperating with the Assad government. Syrian rebels have been fighting government forces for more than three years. The United Nations says more than 191,000 people have been killed since the conflict began.
And thats In The News from Learning English. Im Mario Ritter.
词汇讲解：
1. require vt.要求; 需要
例句：Global markets require multilateral rules.
全球市场需要多边规则。
2. concern vt.涉及，关系到
例句：The situation caused serious concern to the Government.
局势引起政府的极大关注。
3. conflict n.冲突; 战斗
例句：Armed conflict may break out at any moment.
武装冲突有一触即发之势。
4. experience n.经验，体验;
例句：Then there is my personal experience.
接下来是我的个人经验。
5. develop vt.使发展; 使发育
例句：Guys normally develop at different times.
男子在不同时间发育是正常的。
6. territory n.领土，版图; 领地; 领域，范围
例句：No small territory to cover in a two-hour question period!
要在2小时之内回答这些问题可不简单!
7. capture vt.俘获; 夺取;
例句：We convert him, we capture his inner mind, we reshape him.
我们要改造他，争取他的内心，使他脱胎换骨。
8. permission n.允许; 批准
例句：Ask for forgiveness, not permission.
请求原谅，而不是许可。
短语讲解：
1. The State Department announced this week that U.S. officials are working to put together a coalition of countries from Europe, the Arab world and other areas.
put together 组成整体
例句：The three entries when put together come to two hundred yuan.
三笔帐归并起来，一共二百元。
2. The Departments Jen Psaki says these nations could work jointly against the militants in a number of ways.
a number of 许多的; 一些
例句：Difficulties arise in a number of ways.
难度表现在许多方面。
3. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham warned that the militants are willing and able to hit the homeland.
be willing to 乐于; 甘于
例句：People may even be willing to die for their pets.
甚至有人愿意为宠物献出自己的生命。
be able to 能，会; 能够
例句：How soon will china be able to clean up its air?
中国能在多短时间内将空气变清洁?
4. At least one terrorism expert has noted stronger ties between the Islamic State and the group called al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.
at least 至少
例句：At least she is a paragon with her feet on the ground.
她至少是一个脚踏实地的特殊人物。
5. But other experts believe it is too soon to talk about threats to the U.S.
too ... to 太...导致
例句：Its too early to tell.
现在做判断还为时过早。
6. He adds that such attacks are much more difficult to carry out than most people realize.
carry out 执行; 进行
例句：They should also carry out some fundamental reforms.
这些政府也应该执行一些基础性的改革。
7. It takes people who understand how to deal with masking their identities, with exercising a great deal of communications security and other aspects of operational security.
deal with 应付; 对待
例句：So how should you deal with a braggart?
那么应该怎么对待一个吹牛的人呢?
8. Syrian rebels have been fighting government forces for more than three years.
more than 多于
例句：Margaret needed support more than ever.
玛格丽特比以往更需要关心。