Officials say an earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive wave that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes of the quake.

美国官员说，这样震级的地震很有可能会引发毁灭性的海上大浪，形成的海啸在地震发生的几分钟以后就可能袭击震中附近的海岸。

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Military leaders have embraced the sanguine assumption that the political system will somehow avert a second wave of cuts because it would be so destructive, but as of today the law says the cuts begin next January.

FORBES: Defense Plans Will Change, So Don't Bank on Obama Blueprint