VOA常速英语2019--嗅到威胁：美国对伊朗严阵以待（在线收听）

A show of force and a clear signal to Iran: A Patriot missile battery and the USS Arlington will join four B-52 bombers and the massive USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier Strike Group which arrived in the region Thursday. Commanders requested all of this extra power after intelligence picked up potential Iranian threats on land and sea against American forces in the region. It’s important that Iran understand that attack on Americans or its interests will be met with an appropriate response.

这是武力的展示，也是给伊朗发出的清晰信号：爱国者导弹、阿灵顿号军舰将和4只B-52轰炸机以及美国林肯号航空母舰战斗群一起出马，它们已于周四抵达该地区。各司令部要求集结这些额外的军力，因为情报部门嗅到了伊朗在陆路和海路上对该地区美国军队的潜在威胁。很重要的一点是：伊朗要明白，无论是对美国人民还是美国利益的攻击都会得到应有的回应。

The threats included commercial vessels that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had loaded with military hardware to include missiles, according to a senior military official. The USS Arlington provides advanced command capabilities to speed up the American military response time to potential attacks. The Patriot missile battery defense system can shoot down ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft. Officials say the United States does not want war, but it will protect the American forces, and they say the Iranian threat is still real and credible.

这种威胁包括商业舰艇的出现。伊斯兰革命卫队（IRGC）在这些舰艇上装载了军事硬件，如导弹，一位高级军事官员如是说道。阿灵顿号可提供先进的指挥能力，可加速美军对潜在攻击的响应。爱国者导弹构成的防御体系可击落弹道导弹、巡航导弹和飞机。一些官员表示，美国不想打仗，但一定会保护美军的安全。他们还表示，伊朗的威胁是真实存在的，情报十分可信。