Two key members of Congress raised questions on Monday about the U.S. missile defense plan for Europe, saying that the system is untested and would not protect key American interests from an attack by Iran. And a leading Senator called for more cooperation with Russia.
美国国会两位重要议员星期一对美国在欧洲的导弹防御计划提出质疑。他们表示，这个系统还没有经过测试，无法保证美国的关键利益免遭来自伊朗的袭击。一位重要的参议员呼吁加强与俄罗斯的合作。
The most controversial part of the U.S. missile defense system involves putting a sophisticated tracking radar in the Czech Republic and anti-missile missiles in Poland to intercept any Iranian launch aimed at Europe.
美国导弹防御系统中，争议最大的部分是在捷克共和国建立一个复杂的追踪雷达，并在波兰部署反导导弹，以便拦截伊朗向欧洲发射的导弹。
While some missile defense technologies have had numerous successful tests, including sea-based interceptors and warheads designed to destroy long-range missiles over the ocean, the medium-range system planned for Europe has not been tested and is the subject of much criticism.
一些导弹防御技术已经成功地经历过多次测试，其中包括海基拦截器以及在海洋上空摧毁远程导弹的弹头。但是，计划在欧洲部署的中程反导系统还没有经过试验，并且受到了很多批评。
At the same time, Russia claims the Poland-based missiles would threatened its defenses. U.S. officials deny that. But Russia has made the issue a central obstacle to the kind of improvement in relations the Obama administration says it wants.
与此同时，俄罗斯声称，部署在波兰的导弹将威胁到俄罗斯的防御。美国官员对此进行否认，但是俄罗斯把这个问题当成改善美俄关系的主要障碍。
The Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin, indicated Monday he believes the European part of the missile defense system should be dropped in favor of a new approach that would not antagonize Moscow.
参议院武装力量委员会主席卡尔·列文星期一表示，他认为美国的导弹防御系统应当放弃欧洲部分，转而采用一种不会引起俄罗斯对抗的新方式。
"It appears that the door to cooperation between the United States and Russia is gradually opening, and missile defense could become a tool for positive change rather than an impediment to better relations," he said.
他说：“看起来美俄合作的大门正在逐步开启，导弹防御应当成为积极改变的一个工具，而不是改善关系的障碍。”
Levin said although cooperation with Russia on missile defense seems unlikely in the current environment, it is "worth a try" because it could be what he called "a geopolitical game changer."
列文参议员说，虽然在目前的情况下与俄罗斯在导弹防御方面进行合作还没有可能，但是他认为这种合作“值得尝试”，因为它有可能成为“一种改变地缘政治的工具。”
"U.S.-Russian cooperation on missile defense against Iranian missiles, even if we were just to begin serious discussions on the subject, would send a powerful signal to Iran," he said. "Iran would face in a dramatic way a growing unity against her pursuit of dangerous nuclear technology."
他说：“美俄针对伊朗导弹进行导弹防御合作，即使双方仅仅就这个问题开始进行严肃的讨论，也会向伊朗发出一个强烈的信号。伊朗将戏剧性地面对一个反对伊朗追求危险核技术的成长中的团结。”
The senator says the downside of such an approach would be minimal, although some experts express concern about the United States backing out of plans it has pressed Poland and the Czech Republic to accept. Experts also point out that the Bush administration tried to work with Russia on missile defense, but concluded that it was not a realistic possibility.
列文参议员说，这种作法的负面作用是很小的。不过一些专家对美国曾经向波兰和捷克共和国施压，让它们接受导弹防御系统，而现在却撤回这一计划感到关注。专家们指出，布什政府曾试图和俄罗斯在导弹防御问题上进行合作，但后来却得出结论，认为这并非一种现实可能。
At the same conference for missile defense officials and contractors, another member of Congress pointed out a different shortcoming of the European missile defense plan.
在同一次导弹防御官员与合同商的会议上，另一位国会议员指出了欧洲导弹防御计划中的另外一个弱点。
Representative Ellen Tauscher said that even if the system can work, it would not protect U.S. allies in the Middle East or U.S. troops deployed there against Iran's large arsenal of shorter-range missiles.
国会众议员埃伦·陶舍尔表示，即使这个系统有效，它也无法保护美国在中东地区的盟友或者美国部署在中东地区的军队免受伊朗数量庞大的短程导弹的袭击。
"These systems are currently capable of targeting U.S. forces and our allies throughout the region," she said. "And guess what? The proposed interceptor in Poland would have little, if any, capability to counter the existing threat from Iran's short- and medium-range ballistic missiles."
她说：“伊朗的这些武器目前可以打击整个中东地区的美国部队和我们的盟友。你知道吗，计划在波兰部署的拦截器几乎没有能力来对抗伊朗现有的短程和中程弹道导弹所构成的威胁。”
Tauscher, who announced last week she will leave Congress to take the top arms control post at the State Department, also chided the Pentagon for not yet proving the system planned for Europe works.
陶舍尔上个星期宣布将离开国会，担任国务院武器控制工作的负责人。她还批评五角大楼到现在为止还没有证明拟议在欧洲部署的导弹防御系统的有效性。
"The world is a very dangerous place. Non-state actors and rogue nations are working to develop missile technology to do harm to America, American interests and our forward-deployed troops," she said. "That is why we need missile defense systems that work."
Speaking on a computer link from his headquarters in Colorado, the head of U.S. Northern Command, Air Force General Gene Renuart, who is responsible for defending the United States, told the meeting he has confidence in the missile defense system, but acknowledged there is still much work to do.
负责保卫美国本土安全的美国北方司令部司令、空军上将吉恩·雷努阿特通过电脑连线从科罗拉多总部参加了会议。他表示对导弹防御系统有信心，但同时承认还有很多工作要做。
"I am a strong supporter of the system and the program and the current regimen on," he said. "However, we do have to continue to stay focused on those key elements of both operational test and operational employment."
他说：“我是这一系统、这一计划和这一制度的坚定支持者。然而，我们必须继续把注意力集中在运行测试和运行使用这两个关键方面。”
The Obama administration has not said what it will do with the controversial European missile defense system, but it has said it wants to "reset" U.S. relations with Russia. The issues are under review, and the results are expected soon.
奥巴马政府还没有表示将怎样处理有争议的欧洲导弹防御系统，但是已经表示将“重新启动”美国和俄罗斯的关系。对这一系统的审议正在进行之中，预计很快就会产生结果。 |