2007年VOA标准英语-Lawmakers Urge Delay in Spy Satellite Program

By Leta Hong Fincher
Washington
14 September 2007
 

The Bush administration is planning to give domestic law enforcement agencies increased access to powerful spy satellite technology. The Department of Homeland Security says the satellites will be used to boost border security and help rescuers respond to natural disasters. But some lawmakers and civil liberties groups say that the program may invade the privacy of Americans. Leta Hong Fincher has more.

The United States has for decades used spy satellites to monitor trouble spots in other countries. During the Cold War, these U.S. satellites took pictures of Soviet¹ Union tank movements.

Satellite imaging gives law enforcement an additional tool, but civil rights groups are concerned about misuses2 of the technology

Satellite surveillance technology has advanced dramatically since then. Now, the Department of Homeland Security is about to roll out a new program that will expand the use of space-based imaging satellites for domestic purposes. 

Charles Allen, the top intelligence officer for Homeland Security, told a recent congressional hearing that the program will help the nation respond to a range of threats from terrorism and illegal immigration to natural disasters. "Under all conditions, especially in our increasingly uncertain homeland security environment, in which we face a sustained and heightened threat, it is essential that our government use all of its capabilities³ to assure the safety and well-being⁴ of its citizens."

But some lawmakers argue that citizens could have their civil liberties threatened if the Bush administration proceeds with the plan to use secret overhead satellites for law enforcement.

Democratic Party Congresswoman Jane Harman called for a moratorium⁵ on the program until Homeland Security officials provide more information about its legal framework. "What I worry about is that even if this program is well-designed and executed carefully by all of you, and I take you as men of good faith, that someone somewhere else in the administration could hijack⁶ it and use it for other means."

Harman said the domestic use of satellites might violate a law barring the military from engaging in law enforcement within the United States. Traditionally, the Defense⁷ Department has owned and operated spy satellites. Their high-resolution sensors⁸ from space are capable of seeing through clouds and even penetrating⁹ buildings.

Republican Congressman¹⁰ Paul Broun voiced concern that the program lacks safeguards against abuse. "I believe that every person on this committee wants to make sure that this nation stays safe and secure. But I for one am not willing to give up my liberties and my constitutionally protected, God-given rights to your agency or any other."

At a recent House Homeland Security Committee hearing, civil liberties groups argued against the surveillance program.

Barry Steinhardt is head of the technology and liberty program at the American Civil Liberties Union. "The government's use of spy satellites to monitor its own people --- let me emphasize, this is to monitor the American people, this is not weather phenomena¹¹, this is not our national infrastructure¹², bridges or the like, this is people who are being monitored here --- represents another large and disturbing step towards what amounts to a surveillance society."

Charles Allen will direct the new program. He says satellite imagery from space has been used for decades for scientific and environmental purposes. He said the technology will be used with "great care" and will not penetrate¹³ individual homes. "These systems are not directed at individuals, because these systems are not capable of that from space."

A new National Applications Office in the Homeland Security Department will review requests from civilian¹⁴ agencies to use the spy satellites. The program is scheduled to start October 1st.

1 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

2 misuses   

n.用错，滥用( misuse的名词复数 )；误用者v.使用…不当( misuse的第三人称单数 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用

参考例句：

• He misuses his horses by giving them loads that are too heavy. 他给它们过重的负荷来虐待他的马。 来自互联网
• He often misuses his authority to tyrannize his underlings. 他常用手中的职权凌轹下属。 来自互联网

3 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

4 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

5 moratorium   

n.(行动、活动的)暂停(期)，延期偿付

参考例句：

• The government has called for a moratorium on weapons testing.政府已要求暂停武器试验。
• We recommended a moratorium on two particular kinds of experiments.我们建议暂禁两种特殊的实验。

6 hijack   

v.劫持，劫机，拦路抢劫

参考例句：

• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。
• The hijack take place just after the plane take off.劫持是飞机刚起飞后发生的。

7 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。

8 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

9 penetrating   

adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的

参考例句：

• He had an extraordinarily penetrating gaze. 他的目光有股异乎寻常的洞察力。
• He examined the man with a penetrating gaze. 他以锐利的目光仔细观察了那个人。

10 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

11 phenomena   

n.现象

参考例句：

• Ade couldn't relate the phenomena with any theory he knew.艾德无法用他所知道的任何理论来解释这种现象。
• The object of these experiments was to find the connection,if any,between the two phenomena.这些实验的目的就是探索这两种现象之间的联系，如果存在着任何联系的话。

12 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

13 penetrate   

v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解

参考例句：

• Western ideas penetrate slowly through the East.西方观念逐渐传入东方。
• The sunshine could not penetrate where the trees were thickest.阳光不能透入树木最浓密的地方。

14 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。