Putin was misled about early failures in Ukraine, reports indicates

Putin was misled about early failures in Ukraine, reports indicates

　　Transcript¹

　　Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania was part of a classified intelligence briefing about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He talks to NPR's Steve Inskeep about the latest developments in the war.

　　STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

　　Now, Biden administration officials gave a classified briefing to lawmakers yesterday, including our next guest, Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, who's on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Senator, welcome back.

　　BOB CASEY: Hey, Steve, good to be with you. Thank you.

　　INSKEEP: Let's talk about this public statement that the U.S. thinks it knows what Putin has been hearing and knows that he's been disappointed because he's realized he's misinformed. Why do you think the United States would publicly make such announcements?

　　CASEY: Well, Steve, I think it's another example - and I'll base this upon the reporting, I guess, mostly by The New York Times, if not exclusively, about the - you know, what he's been hearing or not hearing. And that's significant because it's another demonstration² where the United States has information that we can provide to the world about, you know, Putin's next move or his military's next move. So I think it's significant that our intelligence community has been able to get a range of information about a range of subject areas that give - not only give us an advantage in the West, but especially on the ground in Ukraine. So I don't - I haven't looked at that - you know, I haven't looked at that closely, the information that the article is based on. But we'll take a closer look at it. But I think it's encouraging that we've got that kind of insight. But I think it's pretty clear right now that this war is not playing out the way Putin intended.

　　INSKEEP: Do you think that the audience for this announcement was Putin himself, it's the United States almost taunting³ him, saying, we know what you're thinking, we know the information you've been receiving?

　　CASEY: Well, I don't want to speak for the intelligence committee or administration. But there's no question that one of the things that Russia has done - and before that, the Soviet⁴ Union - did, with a lot of skill, was to get a lot of disinformation out. The good news on what we've heard from the intelligence committee on these issues over the last couple of months is this is accurate information. This is accurate information about what's happening. And I think that's to our great advantage.

　　INSKEEP: As you watch this news of troop movements in Ukraine and Russian announcements of various kinds, what do you assume Russia is doing?

　　CASEY: Well, I'm going to take the guidance that we've heard from the Defense⁵ Department and other military experts that they might be repositioning. We should assume that the Russian military will continue to move forward on offensives. And this is going to be a long, difficult fight ahead. I hope I'm wrong about that. We should assume the worst and continue, I think, the kind of ever-flowing stream of weapons and military support for the Ukrainian military and for the Ukrainian people. The good news is, just on the military support, since the Biden administration started, $2 billion already. And the president announced more money just yesterday, so more and more help for weapons that are going to be critical to winning the war.

　　INSKEEP: Well, let's talk that through. How does the need for support change and evolve as this goes from a weeks-long war to a months-long war? And of course, you're right to assume it could be a years-long war. We really have no idea. How does the need for support, the specific kinds of equipment or aid, change as the timeline gets longer and longer?

　　CASEY: Well, it may change - or it will change, I think, certainly by way of volume, the volume of weapons. For example, the Javelins⁶ that we've heard so much about - the longer range, shoulder-fired weapons that have taken out tanks and been so successful - to date, the best numbers are that we've provided 2,600 of those. But another 2,000 are on the way. But that volume may go - may have to go way up. Same is true of the Stingers, the kind of small, portable, shoulder-fired, anti-aircraft missiles. So we've provided 600. There's another 800 on the way. So the volume might have to change. But also, the quality or the type of weaponry might have to change to deal with the threats on the ground. But the good news is American taxpayers⁷ have helped the fighters in Ukraine substantially.

　　INSKEEP: What, if anything, scares you?

　　CASEY: Well, that over time that somehow support or focus or the prioritization of this conflict in terms of our debates in Washington and around the country will begin to fade or to wane⁸. We've got to be determined⁹ to keep a focus on this.

　　INSKEEP: Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, pleasure talking with you. Thank you so much.

　　CASEY: Thanks, Steve.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

3 taunting   

嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落

参考例句：

• She wagged a finger under his nose in a taunting gesture. 她当着他的面嘲弄地摇晃着手指。
• His taunting inclination subdued for a moment by the old man's grief and wildness. 老人的悲伤和狂乱使他那嘲弄的意图暂时收敛起来。

4 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

5 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。

6 javelins   

n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The heavy infantry blocks moved forward, throwing javelins just before the clash. 在正面交火之前，庞大的兵团会整体向前移动并投掷标枪。 来自互联网
• Elite mercenaries, originally from Aragon, armed with javelins and light armour. 加泰罗尼亚标枪兵为精锐雇佣部队，最初来自阿拉贡，装备标枪和轻甲。 来自互联网

7 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。

8 wane   

n.衰微，亏缺，变弱；v.变小，亏缺，呈下弦

参考例句：

• The moon is on the wane.月亮渐亏。
• Her enthusiasm for him was beginning to wane.她对他的热情在开始减退。

9 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。