VOA慢速英语2014 塔利班囚犯获释影响未明（在线收听）

Effects of Taliban Prisoner Release Unclear 塔利班囚犯获释影响未明

From VOA Learning English, this is In The News. 

美国之音慢速学英语节目，这里是时事新闻。

Five members of Afghanistan’s Taliban rejoined their families this week after 13 years in detention.  The United States had been holding the five at its prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  The U.S. government recently sent them to Qatar in exchange for the only American soldier held in Afghanistan.

本周，被关押了13年之后，5名阿富汗塔利班分子重新与家人团聚。此前，美国将这5名囚犯关押在古巴关塔纳摩监狱。美国政府最近将他们送往卡塔尔，换取被阿富汗俘获的唯一一名美国士兵。

Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was believed to have been held prisoner for almost five years.  U.S. officials believe his captors belong to the Haqqani network, a group with links to the Taliban.

据信，陆军中士鲍·伯格达尔(Bowe Bergdahl)被关押了接近五年的时间。美国官员相信俘虏他的人隶属哈卡尼网络，与塔利班分子存在关联。

Defense Department officials say Sergeant Bergdahl’s release followed several weeks of secret, indirect talks.  The government of Qatar reportedly assisted in the negotiations.

国防部官员表示，伯格达尔中士的获释是为期几周的秘密间接谈判的结果。卡塔尔政府在谈判中起到辅助作用。

In Washington last Saturday, President Barack Obama praised the soldier’s release. 

上周六，奥巴马总统在华盛顿对这名士兵的获释表示赞誉。

“He wasn’t forgotten by his community in Idaho, or the military, which rallied to support the Bergdahls through thick and thin.  And he wasn’t forgotten by his country – because the United States of American does not ever leave our men and women in uniform behind.”

“他并没有被爱达荷州遗忘，也没有被军方遗忘，他们一直风雨同舟支持伯格达尔一家。他也没有被国家遗忘——因为美利坚合众国永远不会放弃任何一位士兵。”

Republican Party lawmakers welcomed Bowe Bergdahl’s release, but questioned the prisoner exchange.  Senator John McCain was himself a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War.  He described the five Afghans as hardened terrorists and violent extremists.  He and other Republicans wanted the Obama administration to explain what steps were taken to make sure the five never return to fight against the United States.

共和党议员们对鲍·伯格达尔(Bowe Bergdahl)的获释表示欢迎，但是对囚徒交换提出质疑。参议员约翰·麦凯恩本身曾经是越南战争的囚犯。他表示，那5名阿富汗人是冷酷的恐怖分子和暴力的极端分子。他和其他共和党人希望奥巴马政府解释，应该如何采取措施确保这5名阿富汗人永远不会再实施反对美国的行动。

The government in Afghanistan was angered at President Obama’s decision to release the detainees.  The Afghan foreign ministry said the decision was a possible violation of international law. 

阿富汗政府对奥巴马总统释放囚犯的决定表示愤怒。阿富汗外交部表示，该决定可能违反了国际法。

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has defended the agreement to exchange the detainees for Sergeant Bergdahl.  He also defended the decision not to inform Congress before the exchange took place, as required by law.

美国国防部长查克·哈格尔(Chuck Hagel)为用囚犯交换伯格达尔中士的协议作出辩护。关于未按照法律要求在交换囚徒前通知国会的决定，他也作出了辩护。

Secretary Hagel said he does not think the deal will endanger U.S. military personnel or civilians by inviting future deals with hostage-takers.

哈格尔部长表示，他并不认为该交易会鼓励致劫持者再次交易，危害美国军事人员或平民。

The events leading up to the capture of the American in 2009 remain unclear.  A soldier who served with him said the former prisoner is no hero. 

导致这位美国士兵于2009年被俘的事件并不清楚。与他一起服役的一位士兵表示，这名前囚犯并不是英雄。

“People calling him a hero or calling him this great soldier?  It’s a spit in the face to all the soldiers who were there.”

“人们称他为英雄或伟大的士兵？这是对所有士兵的侮辱。”

That was former Army Sergeant Evan Buetow.  He was Bowe Bergdahl’s team leader in Afghanistan.  He says he is happy Sergeant Bergdahl is safe.  But he says he cannot understand celebrating a soldier he says just walked away from his base.

这是前陆军中士Evan Buetow。他曾经是阿富汗鲍·伯格达尔(Bowe Bergdahl)所在的小组的负责人。他说，他很高兴伯格达尔终于安全了。但是他说，他不能理解一位自行离开基地的士兵获释有什么值得庆祝的。

On social media, others accused Bowe Bergdahl of walking away and of getting U.S. troops killed as a result of his actions.

在社交媒体上，其他人指控鲍·伯格达尔(Bowe Bergdahl)擅自离开部队，而且由于他的行为导致美国军人被杀害。

Jonah Blank is with the RAND Corporation policy group.  He notes the Army recognized the soldier with promotions not once, but twice during his captivity.  He says this suggests his actions were nothing less than honorable.

Jonah Blank是兰德公司政策小组成员。他指出，军方曾在伯格达尔被俘期间对他进行了两次晋升。他说，这表明他的行为是非常值得尊重的。

Army Secretary John McHugh has made clear the military’s first goal is to make sure Sergeant Bergdahl regains his health.  He says once that happens, the Army will launch what he called a “comprehensive, coordinated” investigation of the soldier’s disappearance.

美国陆军部长约翰·麦克休(John McHugh)明确表示，军方的首要目标是确保鲍·伯格达尔(Bowe Bergdahl)恢复身体健康。他说，在这之后，军方将对这位士兵的失踪进行“综合的，全面的”调查。