2006年VOA标准英语-Untraceable Cell Phones May be Used by Ter

By Ernest Leong
Washington, DC
17 January 2006
 
watch Cell Phone report

U.S. authorities are investigating a recent sharp increase in purchases of untraceable cell phones.  They're concerned the phones could be for terrorist purposes, but as VOA's Ernest Leong reports, there may be other forces at work.

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Jack¹ Cloonan
  

Cell phones have become an indispensable part of many people's everyday lives.  But officials say certain cell phones -- the disposable ones -- can also be used for sinister² purposes.  Former FBI agent Jack Cloonan says, "One can walk in, purchase it in cash, you don't have to put down a credit card, buy any amount of minutes to it, and you don't frankly³ know who bought this."

Authorities say disposable phones are widely used by criminal gangs and terrorists.  According to officials, disposable cell phones were used to detonate the train bombs in Madrid, Spain in 2004. 

 
Roger Entner
  
Telecom consultant⁴ Roger Entner adds, "Now in Europe it's impossible to get a phone without ID."

Disposable phones recently bought en masse in the U.S. states of California and Texas, were then sent to the Middle East, arousing federal authorities' suspicions.  According to the FBI, the individuals who bought the phones had "links to suspected terrorist cells," and were taken into custody⁵.

The so-called throw away phone was cited by U.S. President George Bush as one justification⁶ for the wire-tapping clause in the PATRIOT⁷ Act.

"Law enforcement officials can now use what's called ‘roving wire taps,’ which will prevent a terrorist from getting a message out to one of his buddies," said the president.

There is another possible explanation: law-abiding people may want an untraceable phone simply to reduce the chances the government can keep track of them.

Officials acknowledge it is possible the two documented large purchases were made for legitimate⁸ reasons -- for resale, or simply given away to friends and family.

Law enforcement officials have used the disposable phones themselves while operating in hostile environments. The FBI investigation⁹ into the purchases is ongoing¹⁰.  They are also looking into a third large-scale purchase, but would not elaborate further.

1 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

2 sinister   

adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的

参考例句：

• There is something sinister at the back of that series of crimes.在这一系列罪行背后有险恶的阴谋。
• Their proposals are all worthless and designed out of sinister motives.他们的建议不仅一钱不值，而且包藏祸心。

3 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

4 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

5 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

6 justification   

n.正当的理由；辩解的理由

参考例句：

• There's no justification for dividing the company into smaller units. 没有理由把公司划分成小单位。
• In the young there is a justification for this feeling. 在年轻人中有这种感觉是有理由的。

7 patriot   

n.爱国者，爱国主义者

参考例句：

• He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
• He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。

8 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

9 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

10 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。