Read the text and say what countermeasures are taken by the USA against the countries accused of sponsoring terrorism

Reading

Discuss the following questions in groups. Share your ideas with the class.

Warm up

Discuss the following issues with your partner. Share your ideas with the class.

Talking Point

Speaking

III. Use the words from the Word Study section in sentences of your own.

II. Match the words with their definitions

I. Find English equivalents to the following

Word Study

Find the facts in the text that can prove the following statements

Skimming

1. Terrorist organizations can acquire and use biological weapons.

2. It is difficult to weaponize biological pathogens.

3. Biological weapons are extremely dangerous.

4. We are not prepared to prevent the dire consequences of a bio-attack.

5. We can limit the consequences of a bio-attack.

Приобретать и использовать биологические агенты (отравляющие вещества); производить в больших количествах; привести к массовым жертвам; заражать; живое (ходячее) биологическое оружие; меры безопасности не соответствуют требованиям; материал (средства) для быстрого распространения (раздачи); обученный и хорошо оснащенный персонал, который первым приходит на помощь; справиться с кризисной ситуацией; ограничить последствия.

1. a casualty	a. disastrous, drastic results
2. pathogens	b. a chemical substance capable of destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, especially bacteria
3. to weaponize	c. an agent that can cause a disease
4. contagious	d. to use something as a destructive means
5. adequate	e. a person who is injured or killed in an accident
6. dire consequences	f. a substance for inoculation to produce immunity to a disease by stimulating the production of antibodies
7. stockpiles	g. capable of being passed on by direct contact with a diseased individual
8. vaccines	h. able to fulfill a need or requirement
9. antibiotics	i. a large store or supply accumulated for future use
10. to lack	j. to be in need of something

Summarize the contents of the text in 10-12 sentences. Don’t forget to use active vocabulary!

1. Do you know any cases of bioterrorist attacks?

2. Is it possible to prevent the possible bioterrorist attacks? What measures can be taken to do it?

Text 3.”State-supported Terrorism”

1. What is understood by state-supported terrorism?

2. What is the “terrorism list”?

3. What countries are on the “terrorism list”? Why?

The Secretary of State maintains a list of countries that have “repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism”. Or this list is drawn from the intelligence community. Listed countries are subject to severe U.S. export controls, particularly of dual use technology, and selling them military equipment is prohibited.

In 2000, seven countries were on the “terrorism list”: Cuba, Iran, Libya, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.

Of the seven, five are Middle Eastern nations with predominantly Muslim populations. Of these on one end of the spectrum Iran and Iraq could currently be characterized as extreme active supporters of terrorism: nations that use terrorism as an instrument of policy or warfare beyond their borders. Iran and Libya are major oil producers. The dependence on oil complicates universal support for sanctions against these nations. Countries such as Cuba and North Korea, which at the height of the Cold War were more active, could be placed at the other end of the spectrum. In recent years, however, they have seemed to settle for the more passive role of granting safe haven to previously admitted individual terrorists. Sudan, which continues to serve as a safe haven for members of terrorist groups, has shut down their training camps and is engaged with the Department of State in ongoing dialogue on anti-terrorism issues. Closer to the middle of an active/ passive spectrum is Libya, which grants safe haven to wanted terrorists. Syria, though not formally detected in an active role since 1986, reportedly serves as the primary transit point for terrorists and for the resupply of weapons to terrorist groups in the Middle East. The Syrian Government has continued to provide political and limited material support to a number of Palestinian groups, including allowing them to maintain headquarters or offices in Damascus.

A complex challenge faces those charged with compiling and maintaining the list. Removing a country from the list is likely to result in some level of confrontation with Congress, so the bureaucratically easier solution is to maintain the status quo, or add to the list, but not to delete from it.

Despite significant international pressure the seven state sponsors of terrorism in 2002 did not take all the actions necessary to associate themselves fully from their ties ro terrorism. While some of these countries have taken steps to cooperate in the global war on terrorism, most have also continued the very actions that led them to be declared state sponsors.

(“Congressional Research Service”, 2000)

Дата добавления: 2015-07-13