(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.
This week, two human rights groups accused the United States of killing more civilians in drone strikes than American officials say. The groups say many of the attacks appeared to be illegal under international law.
Human Rights Watch investigated six drone strikes in Yemen since 2009. It found that at least 57 civilians died in the attacks. Letta Tayler studies terrorist acts and anti-terrorism efforts for the group.
"Two of the six cases that we examined in my report show that the U.S. indiscriminately killed civilians. This is a clear violation of international law."
The report says some drone strikes violated the rules set by President Obama to justify such attacks. The president has said the unmanned aircraft can be used when responding to an immediate threat to the United States. He also said they can be used when there is no hope of capturing a targeted terrorist, and "near certainty" that civilians will not be harmed.
At the White House, Press Secretary Jay Carney rejected accusations that drone strikes violated international law.
"To the extent these reports claim that the U.S. has acted contrary to international law, we would strongly disagree. The administration has repeatedly emphasized the extraordinary care that we take to make sure counterterrorism actions are in accordance with all applicable law."
Amnesty International examined nine American drone attacks in Pakistan. It says it found evidence that more than 30 civilians were killed in four of the strikes. A United Nations report has estimated that drone strikes in Pakistan killed 400 civilians over the past 10 years.
Both Amnesty and Human Rights Watch are calling for more congressional supervision of the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Department.
The first American drone attack in Pakistan took place in 2004. Many observers believe there was a secret agreement in which Pakistan privately approved of drone strikes but publicly condemned them.
Pakistani officials say they are strongly opposed to the attacks. They condemn them as a violation of their country's sovereignty – the right to be free from interference by another country. They also say the attacks are fueling militancy in Pakistan.
North Waziristan has long been considered a center for al-Qaida militants and the Haqqani network. That group has been blamed for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan. The United States has long pressured the Pakistani military to move against extremists in North Waziristan. However, some officials believe that state control has almost disappeared in the territory.
On Wednesday, President Obama and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met at the White House. They discussed cooperation in fighting terrorism and concerns about what the president called "senseless violence and extremism" in Pakistan. Afterward they spoke to reporters. Prime Minister Sharif said the two countries will continue to increase cooperation against terrorists. But he also called for no more drone attacks.
"Pakistan and the United States have a strong, ongoing counterterrorism cooperation. We have agreed to further strengthen this cooperation. I also brought up the issue of drones in our meeting, emphasizing the need for an end to such strikes."
And that's In the News, from VOA Learning English. I'm Steve Ember.
译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载
词汇解释
1.indiscriminately adv. 不加选择地；任意地
We should not use proverbs and allusions indiscriminately.
不要滥用成语典故。
2.applicable adj. 可适用的；可应用的；合适的
What is a reasonable standard for one family is not applicable for another.
对一个家庭合理的标准对于另一个家庭并不适用。
3.militancy n. 战斗性；交战状态
The seniority system is another factor that leads to union militancy.
排资论辈制度也是导致工会好斗争的另一因素。
4.sovereignty n. 主权；主权国家；君主；独立国
The superpower often tramples on the independence and sovereignty of other countries.
这个超级大国经常无视别国的独立和主权。
内容解析
1.The administration has repeatedly emphasized the extraordinary care that we take to make sure counterterrorism actions are Cancellation charges will apply in accordance with all applicable law.
in accordance with依照；与…一致
Cancellation charges will apply in accordance with paragraph 4 above.
按照上面第四节条款内容应该支付注销费。
One's opinion tends to differ in accordance with one's standpoint.
不同的立场势必形成不同的见解。
2.That group has been blamed for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan.
blame for 责备；因……责备
The conductor is blamed for the accident.
售票员因此次意外事故而受到指责。
A patsy was blamed for killing President Kennedy.
一个代罪羔羊被指责行刺肯尼迪总统。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语新闻报道。
本周，两个人权组织指责美国在无人机袭击中杀害的平民比美国官员声称的要多，这两个组织称根据国际法，很多袭击显然非法。
人权观察组织调查了2009年来在也门的6起无人机袭击，发现至少57名平民在袭击中丧生。莱塔·泰勒在该组织负责研究恐怖分子行为和反恐工作。
“在我报告中检查的案件中，6起就有两起表明美国任意杀害平民，这显然是对国际法的违背。”
这份报道称一些无人机袭击违反了总统奥巴马设定的为此类袭击辩解的规定，总统说无人机可以在应对对美国造成迫切威胁的事件中。他还说可以在抓捕恐怖分子无望时用无人机，并且“几乎可以确定”不会伤害到平民。
新闻秘书卡尼尔在白宫否认了所谓无人机袭击违反国际法的说法。
“这些报道在一定程度上声称美国违反了国际法，我们对此表示强烈反对。政府已多次强调，我们会采取特别措施来确保反恐行动符合所有适用的法律。”
大赦国际组织调查了巴基斯坦的9起无人机袭击，称发现证据表明在其中4起袭击中有30多名平民丧生。联合国一份报告估计过去10年来无人机袭击在巴基斯坦杀死了400名平民。
大赦国际和人权观察组织都呼吁国会对中情局和国防部进行监督。
美国首次对巴基斯坦进行无人机袭击是在2004年，许多观察家称巴基斯坦私下批准了一份秘密协议，但却公开表示谴责。
巴基斯坦官员称强烈谴责袭击事件，指责这是对本国主权的违反，即不受他国干预的权利，他们还称这次袭击助长了巴基斯坦的战斗状态。
北瓦济里斯坦长期以来被视为是基地组织武装分子和哈卡尼网络的活动基地，该组织被控在阿富汗实施了一些最致命的袭击。美国长期以来对巴基斯坦军队施压，要求对付北瓦济里斯坦的极端分子。然而，有的官员认为国家几乎失去了对该地区的控制。
周三，总统奥巴马和巴基斯坦总理纳瓦兹·谢里夫在白宫会面，他们讨论了就打击恐怖主义的合作，以及对总统所谓的巴基斯坦“残忍的暴力和极端主义”的担忧。随后他们对记者讲了话，总理谢里夫称两国将继续加强在打击恐怖分子上的合作，但他也呼吁不要再进行无人机袭击。
“巴基斯坦和美国在反恐合作上持续深入，我们一致同意加强这种合作，我还在会上谈到无人机问题，强调结束此类打击的必要。”
这里是美国之音慢速英语新闻报道，我是斯蒂夫·恩伯。
