时代周刊:国家情报总监丹·科茨为何能在特朗普政府化险为夷?(3)（在线收听）

Coats has had less influence on other matters.

但在其他事务上，科茨就没有这么大的影响力了。

He and his fellow intelligence chiefs joined lawmakers to call for a unified U.S. response to the ongoing threat of Russian election meddling.

他曾同其他情报官员一起，与国会议员一道，呼吁美国对仍旧存在的，俄罗斯干预美国选举的威胁做出一致反应。

But Trump has declined to issue any new authorities for the effort,

但特朗普拒绝为此发布任何新的授权，

and Coats was left to brief state election officials on the growing threat.

科茨却依然肩负着向各州选举官员简介这一日益壮大的威胁的工作。

In February, Coats testified that Iran was abiding by the 2015 nuclear deal,

今年2月，科茨在法庭上作证说，伊朗遵守了2015年达成的核协议，

which he said had constrained the program and increased international inspections.

他说，这一协议对伊朗的核计划起到了限制作用，也增加了国际检查的力度。

In regular briefings for Trump, Coats reported on Iran’s compliance.

在给特朗普的例行简报中，科茨报告了伊朗遵守了上述核协议的情况。

But on May 8, Trump walked away from the deal.

然而，5月8日，特朗普还是退出了该协议。

Coats’ most pressing challenge now is to provide intelligence on North Korea’s nuclear program

尽管如此，目前，科茨面临的最紧迫的挑战仍数要在新加坡峰会按计划启动之前，

and a read on Kim’s motives in the run-up to the planned summit in Singapore.

提供有关朝鲜核计划的情报并解读金正日的动机。

“We are throwing every effort that we can into getting knowledge of what North Korea is doing

“我们正在尽一切努力了解朝鲜当下的动态

and what their intentions are,” Coats says.

和动机，”科茨说。

But, he says, “it’s impossible to get a full picture of a country, particularly a country like North Korea, which is so dark and so isolated.”

但他也说道，“全面了解一个国家，尤其是像朝鲜这样黑暗又孤立的国家是不可能的。”

Even if Coats can give Trump an edge at the summit, it’s not clear the President will listen.

即便科茨真的能让特朗普在峰会上抢占到先机，总统是否真的就会采纳科茨的意见仍不明朗。

As Coats and other top advisers met with a South Korean delegation at the White House on March 8 to discuss Kim’s summit offer,

3月8日，就在科茨和其他高级顾问在白宫会见韩国的代表团，就金正恩的峰会邀约展开讨论之际，

Trump surprised everyone by accepting it without consultation.

特朗普未经协商就直接接受了提议，打了所有人一个措手不及。

Winging it with Kim in Singapore could risk damaging U.S. influence in the region

到新加坡峰会上即兴发挥可能会破坏美国在该地区的影响力，

or even set the U.S. on a course to war, experts say.

甚至让美国走上战争的道路，专家们说。

Senior advisers say Trump doesn’t feel he needs to prepare for the meeting at all.

高级顾问道，特朗普觉得他不用为峰会做任何准备。

Coats’ defenders say he’s earned Trump’s trust.

科茨的支持者们则表示，科茨已经赢得了特朗普的信任。

“Not only is the President receiving the best advice from Director Coats,”

“总统不仅从科茨总监那里得到了最好的建议，”

says Republican Senate Intelligence Committee chair Richard Burr,

共和党参议院情报委员会主席理查德·伯尔说，

but “he values that advice when making policy decisions.”

“他在做决策时也十分重视科茨的建议。”

Coats says he wants to build long-term credibility for the intelligence community

科茨说，他希望帮情报机构树立长期的信誉，

and has ordered spy agencies to become more transparent,

他也已经命令各间谍机构提高透明度，

mandating faster declassification and disclosure of information about some classified programs,

要求他们加快解密和披露一些机密项目

including the 702 eavesdropping program.

包括702窃听计划的步伐。

But Trump has repeatedly attacked the integrity of the intelligence community over the Russia investigation.

但特朗普就俄罗斯调查一事对情报机构的诚信度进行了多次抨击。

When asked whether Trump sought his counsel over how to end the probe, Coats demurs,

当被问及特朗普是否就如何结束调查一事征求过他的意见时，科茨拒绝回答，

but he has been questioned about the incident by federal investigators, sources familiar with the matter say.

但知情人士说，联邦调查人员已经就此事对他进行了询问。

Coats says “a dark cloud (of partisanship) has settled over the process.”

科茨说，“(党派之争的)阴云已经笼罩了整个进程。”

Which is just one reason it will take more than mild manners and transparency to protect and advance the credibility of America’s spies.

而这只是保护和提高美国间谍的可信度，需要的不仅仅是温和的态度和透明度的原因之一。