VOA常速英语2014--Saudi Arabia Offers Sophisticated Weapons to Syrian Rebels 沙特阿拉伯向叙利亚反对派提供先进武器（在线收听）

Saudi Arabia Offers Sophisticated Weapons to Syrian Rebels 沙特阿拉伯向叙利亚反对派提供先进武器

Saudi Arabia reportedly is offering to provide Syrian rebels more sophisticated weapons, including shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles that can take down fighter planes and helicopter gunships.

据报道沙特阿拉伯正在向叙利亚叛军提供更加精密的武器，其中包括肩扛式反飞机导弹。这种武器可以把战斗机和武装直升机击落

They could be a game changer in the Syrian civil war.

这可能会改变叙利亚内战的战局

Known as MANPADS or man-portable air defense systems, the shoulder-fired missiles are a highly-effective weapon.

肩扛式导弹被称为便携式防空体系或者是单兵式防空体系，是一种威力强大的武器

Now, Saudi Arabia is offering to supply moderate rebels with these weapons. That could tip the balance on the battlefield.

现在，沙特阿拉伯正在向温和的叛军提供这些武器。这可能会打破战场的平衡

Senior Middle East analyst David Weinberg said, “They [Saudis] see Sunnis, their compatriots being slaughtered by Shi'ites whom they perceive as heretics, and they see a religious obligation to rise to the side of their compatriots who have been struggling on the battlefield.”

高级中东问题分析专家大卫·温伯格说“他们（沙特）看到逊尼派，他们的同胞，被他们所称的异教徒什叶派所屠杀，因此他们把为艰苦作战同胞提供帮助视为宗教义务。

Potent missiles

威力强大的导弹

American supplied shoulder-fired Stinger missiles helped the mujahedeen drive the Soviets from Afghanistan in the 1980s. U.S. officials, however, oppose arming Syrian rebels with such weapons. They are concerned the missiles could fall into the hands of extremists who might use them to fire at commercial airliners.

1980年美军所提供的肩扛式“蛰针”导弹帮助穆斯林游击队把苏联军队赶出了阿富汗。但是，美国的官员反对为叙利亚叛军提供这样的武器，他们担心武器会落入极端分子的手中，他们可能会使用这样的武器袭击民用飞机

Because of U.S. opposition, the Saudis have not supplied MANPADS in the past.

由于美国的反对，沙特在过去没有提供这种便携式防空体系

Middle East expert David Schenker at the Washington Institute said, “It is just too dangerous. There is too much leakage. And there is already a huge surplus from Libya that is out there in the open market that is moving around the Middle East, that poses a tremendous threat to civilian aircraft.”

华盛顿的研究机构中东问题专家大卫·斯库那说，“这太危险了。武器被泄露的可能性太大了。利比亚剩下了很多这样的武器，正在整个中东的公开市场上流通，这对民用飞机构成了巨大的威胁。”

The rebels cannot compete with Syria's Russian-made helicopters that have been dropping barrel bombs on the civilian population.

叛军无法与叙利亚政府所使用的已经向平民投下了大量炸弹的俄制直升机相对抗

Russia's role

俄罗斯的角色

Failed peace negotiations have disappointed the Obama administration, which no longer believes Russia will play a constructive role.

奥巴马政府对和平谈判感到很失望，已经不相信俄罗斯会发挥建设性的作用

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said, "Russia needs to be a part of the solution and not be contributing so many more weapons and so much more aid that they are in fact enabling [Syrian President Bashar al] Assad to double down."

美国国务卿约翰·克里说，”俄罗斯需要推动解决问题，不要向叙利亚政府提供这么多的武器和这么多的援助，以至于实际上使巴沙尔·阿萨德总统实力增加一倍。”

Wealthy Persian Gulf states also are offering to supply moderate Syrian rebels with anti-tank guided missiles.

富裕的波斯湾国家也正在向叙利亚叛军提供反坦克制导导弹

Some analysts say it is time to strengthen them.

一些分析人士说是时候增强他们实力了

“We've wasted a lot of time. And there has been a lot of suffering because the rebels have not been as successful as they could be. I think we have got to help change the dynamic on the ground,” said Schenker.

“我们已经浪费很多的时间了。因为叛军的表现没有预想的那么成功，已经造成了太多的苦难。我认为我们必须改变战场上的实力对比。”

Reaching out to Riyadh

向沙特请求援助

The Syrian war and disagreements over Iran's nuclear program have strained relations between Riyadh and Washington.

叙利亚内战和在伊朗核项目上的分歧已经造成沙特和美国之间关系紧张。

Kerry has made two recent visits to reduce tensions.

最近克里两次出访以缓解紧张关系

“Relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia are quite poor right now," said Weinberg. "They are going through a rough patch. They are not going through a divorce.”

“美国和沙特的关系现在很紧张。”温伯格说“他们正在进行艰难的关系修复。他们正在走向分离。”

President Barack Obama is said to be rethinking U.S. strategy toward Syria.

据说布兰克·奥巴马总统正在重新考虑美国解决叙利亚问题的策略。

No doubt arming the Syrian rebels will be on the agenda when Obama travels to Saudi Arabia in late March.

当奥巴马在3月末出访沙特时，为叙利亚武器提供武器的问题毫无疑问会被提上议程。