2006年VOA标准英语-Port Deal Raises Security Concerns

By Jim Bertel
Washington, DC
22 February 2006
 
watch Port Controversy¹ report

There is controversy over the Bush administration's decision to allow an Arab company to manage six major ports in the United States. Critics say the deal puts national security at risk, while supporters believe it poses no risk at all. President George Bush is warning that he will veto any legislation Congress may pass preventing the port management deal.

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Seaports² are the heart of commerce in the United States with more than two billion tons of cargo³ passing through them each year. Many security experts warn that they are also the weak link in fighting terrorism since only five to seven percent of shipments are ever checked by security. 

 

 
Jerry Hauer 
  

"No question that the ports are one of the true vulnerabilities,” says Jerry Hauer, the former head of New York City's Emergency Management office. “So little cargo is inspected that the likelihood of getting something through a port is very high."

He and other local officials believe the government is not doing enough to upgrade port security. Now the Bush administration's decision to allow Dubai Ports World, a state-owned company from the United Arab Emirates, to take over operations in six major ports from New York to New Orleans has members of both political parties outraged⁴.

Republican Representative Peter King, the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee is among the deal's critics and points out that two of the 9/11 hijackers came from the U.A.E.

 
Peter King
  
"I simply don't believe that the ports of the United States should be operated in the hands of any foreign government. Dubai [a part of the United Arab Emirates] just happens to have a particularly bad history," said Mr. King.

Democratic opposition⁵ Senator Charles Schumer of New York says the deal is not just wrong; it is dangerous. "Outsourcing operations of our largest ports with a country long involved in terrorism is a homeland security accident waiting to happen."

The administration does not consider the U.A.E to be involved in terrorism and considers it an ally. Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff says the deal was fully⁶ vetted⁷. "We make sure there are assurances in place in general sufficient to satisfy us the deal is appropriate from a national security standpoint," he said.

Secretary Chertoff points out the contract only covers port operations with security still being handled by the U.S. government.

But two Republican governors whose states are homes to major ports are threatening legal action. And two Democratic senators and Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist plan to introduce legislation prohibiting the sale of port operations to foreign governments.

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 seaports   

n.海港( seaport的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Airports have joined seaports as ports of entry for the visiting foreigner. 机场和海港一样成为来访的外国人的入境关口。 来自互联网
• Sanya has 16 seaports, 10 islands and 180km of coastline. 三亚有16个港口、10个海岛和180公里的海岸线。 来自互联网

3 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

4 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

7 vetted   

v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的过去式和过去分词 )；调查；检查；诊疗

参考例句：

• The recruits were thoroughly vetted before they were allowed into the secret service. 情报机关招募的新成员要经过严格的审查。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All staff are vetted for links with extremist groups before being employed. 所有职员录用前均须审查是否与极端分子团体有关。 来自辞典例句