VOA标准英语2011--Iranian Video Displays Alleged US Drone

Iranian Video Displays Alleged¹ US Drone

 

The Iranian government has complained to the United Nations about a U.S. spy drone it says was brought down over eastern Iran this week. Iran accuses the U.S. of violating Iranian airspace and has released video of what Tehran says is the spy plane in question.

Iranian state TV released images late Thursday of what it said was an unmanned U.S. drone downed recently just inside Iran's eastern border. The images appear to be the high-tech² RQ-170 Sentinel drone, brought down somehow with minimum damage.

U.S. officials refuse to confirm whether this is a U.S. spy aircraft, but Pentagon spokesman George Little acknowledges the fear of losing its technology.

"Technology falling into the wrong hands? Separate and apart from this specific instance - I'm not confirming anything - when U.S. technology falls into the wrong hands, it's always a concern," said Little.

Earlier this year, the United States abandoned a stealth helicopter that malfunctioned³ during the raid targeting al-Qaida leader Osama bin⁴ Laden⁵ in Pakistan. If this is the drone known as the "Beast of Kandahar," then, like the helicopter, its basic shape, even its skin, is secret.

A member of Iran's revolutionary guard pointing at what Iran says is the U.S. RQ-170 unmanned spy plane, as he speaks with Admiral Hajizadeh (R), a revolutionary guard commander, at an unknown location in Iran, in this undated picture received December 8, 2011.

But the CATO Institute's Chris Preble said losing this type of technology to the Iranians is not that big of a threat. He said the U.S. has used drones for at least the past decade as one of many surveillance and defense⁶ techniques.

"The question is whether or not we, the United States, and the other Western powers that are watching the Iranians will change the mix of assets used to monitor them," said Preble.

Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency released a report citing intelligence about Iranian efforts to develop the technology needed to build nuclear weapons.

Western powers suspect Iran is trying to develop such weapons, although Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful.

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

3 malfunctioned   

发生故障(malfunction的过去式与过去分词)

参考例句：

• Is there any way the dye pack malfunctioned back at the bank? 什么能使爆色板在银行内就失效？ 来自电影对白
• The malfunctioned roller of his mouse is under repair. 他鼠标的滚轴失灵了，正在修呢。 来自互联网

4 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

5 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

6 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。