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2007年VOA标准英语-Pentagon Won't Comment on Reports of Iraq Snipe

时间:2007-10-06 05:37:54

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By Meredith Buel
Washington
25 September 2007

The Pentagon is refusing to comment directly on news reports in the United States about a classified program encouraging some military snipers in Iraq to use fake weapons and bomb-making materials as bait, and then killing1 anyone who picks up the items.  VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Washington.

News reports on the classified sniper program are based on information described in documents related to recently filed murder charges against three members of a U.S. Army sniper team. 

Each soldier is accused of killing an Iraqi in separate shootings and then planting incriminating evidence, such as wire for making bombs, on the bodies of the victims.

Lawyers for the soldiers say the killings2 were legal and authorized4 by their superiors.

In sworn statements, soldiers testifying for the defense5 say the sniper team was employing a so-called baiting program developed at the Pentagon by the Asymmetrical6 Warfare7 Group.  That group advises commanders on how to fight unconventional conflicts such as the insurgency8 in Iraq.

In the statements the baiting was described as putting items, including plastic explosives, ammunition9 and detonation10 cords on the battlefield then killing suspected insurgents11 who picked up the objects.

During a briefing at the Pentagon, Major General Richard Sherlock declined to comment directly on the existence of the program or the cases against the three snipers.

"I can't discuss this case specifically for a couple of reasons," he said.  "First of all there is a court martial12 that is about to convene13 and the soldiers connected with this case and subsequent cases deserve due process.  Second of all, we don't normally discuss specific, tactics, techniques and procedures.  However, I will say we base all of our actions on the laws of land warfare and the rules of engagement and our rules of engagement apply in all circumstances, which does not include simply picking something up on the battlefield." 

An Army spokesman, Paul Boyce, says there are no classified programs at the Pentagon that authorize3 the murder of Iraqi civilians14 or planting evidence to make killings appear to be legally justified15.

The court martial of one of the accused soldiers is scheduled to begin this week in Baghdad.


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1 killing kpBziQ     
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。
2 killings 76d97e8407f821a6e56296c4c9a9388c     
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。
3 authorize CO1yV     
v.授权,委任;批准,认可
参考例句:
  • He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
  • Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。
4 authorized jyLzgx     
a.委任的,许可的
参考例句:
  • An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。
5 defense AxbxB     
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 asymmetrical gO7ye     
adj.不均匀的,不对称的
参考例句:
  • Most people's faces are asymmetrical.多数人的脸并不对称。
  • Folds may be gentle and symmetrical,or sharp and asymmetrical.褶皱可以是平缓而对称的,也可以是陡峭而非对称的。
7 warfare XhVwZ     
n.战争(状态);斗争;冲突
参考例句:
  • He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。
  • Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。
8 insurgency dqdzEb     
n.起义;暴动;叛变
参考例句:
  • And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国,动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
  • Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网
9 ammunition GwVzz     
n.军火,弹药
参考例句:
  • A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
  • They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。
10 detonation C9zy0     
n.爆炸;巨响
参考例句:
  • A fearful detonation burst forth on the barricade.街垒传来一阵骇人的爆炸声。
  • Within a few hundreds of microseconds,detonation is complete.在几百微秒之内,爆炸便完成了。
11 insurgents c68be457307815b039a352428718de59     
n.起义,暴动,造反( insurgent的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子,这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网
12 martial bBbx7     
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。
13 convene QpSzZ     
v.集合,召集,召唤,聚集,集合
参考例句:
  • The Diet will convene at 3p.m. tomorrow.国会将于明天下午三点钟开会。
  • Senior officials convened in October 1991 in London.1991年10月,高级官员在伦敦会齐。
14 civilians 2a8bdc87d05da507ff4534c9c974b785     
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。
15 justified 7pSzrk     
a.正当的,有理的
参考例句:
  • She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
  • The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

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