2014英语四级听力练习:慢速英语8.30(2)_大学英语听力

2014英语四级听力练习:慢速英语8.30(2)

　　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.