VOA标准英语2011--US Considers Court Martial of Soldier Tied to WikiLeaks

US Considers Court Martial¹ of Soldier Tied to WikiLeaks

 

The U.S. military is considering whether to court-martial an Army analyst² blamed for the biggest leak of classified information in American history. During a preliminary hearing that ended on Thursday, the government argued that Private First Class Bradley Manning passed thousands of sensitive documents to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks, endangering security and diplomatic sources.

The case against 24-year-old Army private Bradley Manning is now before a military officer who will decide if Manning should face a military trial on 22 charges, including aiding the enemy.

During a six-day hearing, military prosecutors³ argued the intelligence analyst abused the nation’s trust when he gave WikiLeaks thousands of secret documents knowing they would be released and viewed by the nation’s enemies.

Security analyst Michael O’Hanlon downplays that argument. “This was secret information, not top secret, not code word. That’s part of why so much of it was available in ready form in a couple of big files. Because it was considered to be sensitive but not earth shattering," he said.

Many of the leaked documents include diplomatic cables that bluntly describe interactions with foreign officials and world leaders, sometimes painting an unflattering picture of them.

Army Private First Class Bradley Manning (C) is escorted out of a courthouse in Fort Meade, Maryland, December 21, 2011.

Manning supporters describe him as someone seeking to release the truth. “He’s a heroic whistleblower who shed light on a lot of things that we don’t know about," said Nathan Fuller, a Manning supporter.

Defense⁴ lawyers describe Manning as a troubled man who suffered from a gender-identity crisis. And Manning’s lawyers blame the military for failing to suspend his access to classified data even though he had showed signs of being troubled.

Security analysts⁵ say the massive information leak complicates⁶ diplomacy⁷ throughout the world by casting doubt on whether classified information that is written will remain secret. “There are already people who are being a lot less open in their communications even with each other within the government because of this, so in that regard there is a certain amount of damage he has done that continues," said O'Hanlon.

The presiding military officer hearing the case has until January 16 to decide if Manning should face a court martial. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison.

1 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

2 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。

3 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

4 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。

5 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。

6 complicates   

使复杂化( complicate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• What complicates the issue is the burden of history. 历史的重负使问题复杂化了。
• Russia as a great and ambitious power gravely complicates the situation. 俄国作为一个强大而有野心的国家，使得局势异常复杂。

7 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。