VOA标准英语2010年-US Expected to Continue Drone Strikes

A recent UN report called on the Obama administration to stop unmanned drone strikes against terrorists along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.   The human rights group, Amnesty International, says the United States must clarify rules for using drones and monitor the impact on civilians².  Critics say U.S. drone attacks have killed hundreds of civilians over last few years. Despite criticism, analysts⁴ say the U.S. is not likely to change its tactics and will continue using drones.

Drone attacks targeting alleged⁵ terrorists in Pakistan have become an increasingly common tool used by the United States.  The program is being condemned⁶ by critics who say it may constitute assassination⁷ and violates international law.

The third highest leader in al-Qaida, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, was reported killed by a missile from a drone in a tribal⁸ region in Pakistan -- the day before the UN report was issued.

The report calls on the U.S. to use restraint in using drones outside of war zones, such as Pakistan.  Peter Singer follows defense⁹ issues at the Brookings Institution in Washington. "I think this really comes down to the fundamental difference between the use of this technology in clear war zones, like Afghanistan, by the military versus¹⁰ the murkier¹¹ area of a counter terrorism campaign, a targeted killing¹² campaign, by an intelligence agency," he said.

The Obama administration does not acknowledge the program by the Central Intelligence Agency.  Pakistan has publicly objected to the killings¹³ but its military is said to provide information on the targets. 

"The strikes, of course, are happening. The CIA may deny they're happening.   The Pakistani government, not only knows they're playing out, they're facilitating it.  For example, it was revealed about a year ago, the planes, contrary to violating Pakistani sovereignty, were actually taking off from Pakistani airforce bases," he said.

"If the people most directly involved in this - the Pakistanis - really want it to stop, then I think you would see the elected government of Pakistan become quite vocal¹⁴ in opposition¹⁵ and would shut this down," said Reuel Marc Gerecht, an intelligence analyst³ at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington.

During a visit to Pakistan last October, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she refused to discuss the drones.  But in March, a State Department legal advisor¹⁶ defended drone killings as lawful¹⁷ because of the conflict with al-Qaida.  

The UN report says the U.S. should release figures on civilian¹ casualties caused by the strikes.  The report also expresses concern that targeted killings are becoming easier  and more frequent because the drones are controlled by computers and audio feeds far from the battlefield.

Singer says more than 40 countries have drones. He supports using them in Pakistan.  "There are terrorist leaders who have done very bad things and are planning very bad things, who are deliberately¹⁸ hiding out in areas that are inaccessible¹⁹. You can't capture them, you can't get the local government to go in, and the only way to get them is from these strikes from afar," he said.

The UN report proposes a summit of key military powers to clarify limits on killings by armed drones.

 

1 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

8 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

10 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

11 murkier   

adj.阴暗的( murky的比较级 )；昏暗的；（指水）脏的；混浊的

参考例句：

• If not, the outcome may be a lot murkier. 而如不然，结果可能就会更加含糊不清。 来自互联网
• This leads us into the murkier areas of human behaviour. 这让我们看到了人类行为较阴暗的领域。 来自互联网

12 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

13 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

14 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

15 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

16 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

17 lawful   

adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的

参考例句：

• It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
• We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。

18 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

19 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。