2006年VOA标准英语-US Security Chief Says UAE Ports Deal is N

By Stephanie Ho
Washington
19 February 2006

 
Michael Chertoff during his testimony¹ before Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Feb. 15, 2006
  
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is defending a deal giving a company in the United Arab Emirates control over terminals at key U.S. ports. Critics in Congress say the deal is a threat to national security.

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Critics have blasted the recent deal, in which government-owned Dubai Ports World purchased London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, a private company that runs commercial operations in six major U.S. ports.

The nearly $7-billion sale has been approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which includes officials from the Departments of Commerce, Defense², Homeland Security, Justice, and State.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff emphasized that the deal has undergone close scrutiny³, although he said he could not provide details.

"Without getting into classified information, what we typically do if there are concerns, is we build in certain conditions or requirements that the company has to agree to to make sure we address the national security concerns," said Michael Chertoff. "And here, the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection really played a leading role for our department in terms of designing those conditions and making sure that they are obeyed."

A bipartisan group of senators and House members last week called on the Bush Administration to review the sale, saying it undermines national security.

They noted⁴ that the United Arab Emirates served as a base for the hijackers who took part in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. They also argue that the UAE was one of only three countries that recognized the Taleban as Afghanistan's legitimate⁵ government.

The Bush Administration considers the United Arab Emirates an ally in the war on terror.

Secretary Chertoff told NBC's Meet the Press he believes it is not fair to automatically cut off business with entire countries, like the United Arab Emirates, just because there were some UAE connections to the September 11 terrorists. He pointed⁶ to the so-called shoebomber, the terrorist who tried to detonate a bomb in his shoe while on an airplane, to make his point.

"Well, Richard Reid was British," he said. "He was going to blow up an airliner⁷. We do not say the British cannot buy companies here."

He added that he believes the committee's careful review of the deal, which includes building safeguards into it, reduces any risks to the United States.

"And this is part of the balancing of security, which is our paramount⁸ concern, with the need to still maintain a real robust⁹ global trading environment," explained Michael Chertoff.

The six major American ports affected¹⁰ are Baltimore, Miami, New Jersey¹¹, New Orleans, New York, and Philadelphia.

The Associated Press reports that a company at the Port of Miami has sued to block the UAE company's takeover of shipping¹² operations there. The company, Continental¹³ Stevedoring¹⁴ and Terminals, said it will become an "involuntary partner" of Dubai Ports World. It also expressed doubts that the UAE company, Florida or the U.S. government can ensure compliance¹⁵ with American security rules.

1 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

2 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。

3 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

6 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

7 airliner   

n.客机，班机

参考例句：

• The pilot landed the airliner safely.驾驶员使客机安全着陆。
• The passengers were shepherded across the tarmac to the airliner.旅客们被引导走过跑道去上飞机。

8 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

9 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

10 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

11 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

12 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

13 continental   

adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的

参考例句：

• A continental climate is different from an insular one.大陆性气候不同于岛屿气候。
• The most ancient parts of the continental crust are 4000 million years old.大陆地壳最古老的部分有40亿年历史。

14 stevedoring   

v.码头装卸工人，搬运工( stevedore的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• This stevedoring company is a modernized container terminal. 本装卸公司是一个现代化的集装箱码头。 来自互联网
• Meeting the needs of industries from stevedoring to printing for damage free roll handling with efficiency. 适用于各种造纸、包装、印刷等行业对各类纸卷进行高效、无破损的搬运与堆垛作业。 来自互联网

15 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。