VOA常速英语2019--嗅到威胁：美国对伊朗严阵以待

A show of force and a clear signal to Iran: A Patriot¹ missile battery and the USS Arlington will join four B-52 bombers² and the massive USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier Strike Group which arrived in the region Thursday. Commanders requested all of this extra power after intelligence picked up potential Iranian threats on land and sea against American forces in the region. It’s important that Iran understand that attack on Americans or its interests will be met with an appropriate response.

这是武力的展示，也是给伊朗发出的清晰信号：爱国者导弹、阿灵顿号军舰将和4只B-52轰炸机以及美国林肯号航空母舰战斗群一起出马，它们已于周四抵达该地区。各司令部要求集结这些额外的军力，因为情报部门嗅到了伊朗在陆路和海路上对该地区美国军队的潜在威胁。很重要的一点是：伊朗要明白，无论是对美国人民还是美国利益的攻击都会得到应有的回应。

The threats included commercial vessels³ that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps⁴ had loaded with military hardware to include missiles, according to a senior military official. The USS Arlington provides advanced command capabilities⁵ to speed up the American military response time to potential attacks. The Patriot missile battery defense⁶ system can shoot down ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft. Officials say the United States does not want war, but it will protect the American forces, and they say the Iranian threat is still real and credible⁷.

这种威胁包括商业舰艇的出现。伊斯兰革命卫队（IRGC）在这些舰艇上装载了军事硬件，如导弹，一位高级军事官员如是说道。阿灵顿号可提供先进的指挥能力，可加速美军对潜在攻击的响应。爱国者导弹构成的防御体系可击落弹道导弹、巡航导弹和飞机。一些官员表示，美国不想打仗，但一定会保护美军的安全。他们还表示，伊朗的威胁是真实存在的，情报十分可信。

1 patriot   

n.爱国者，爱国主义者

参考例句：

• He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
• He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。

2 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

5 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

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。

7 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？