时间:2019-01-13 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2008年(六月)


英语课

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
18 June 2008


A group of American doctors that promotes human rights says it has examined 11 former detainees who were held by the U.S. military, and determined 1 they were systematically 2 tortured with the complicity of medical personnel. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

The group Physicians for Human Rights says the alleged 3 abuse is continuing to have long-term effects on the detainees, and that the conduct of the troops involved and their commanders amounts to war crimes. In a report issued Wednesday, the group says the abusive techniques included beatings, stress positions, extreme heat and cold, sexual humiliation 4, threats of attacks on their families and even rape 5.

The report says none of the 11 detainees was ever formally charged with a crime, and all were released, some after several years in custody 6.

Members of the doctors' group did extensive physical and psychological examinations of the former detainees. One of the investigators 7, Dr. Allen Keller, says they found solid evidence to support the detainees' claims of mistreatment in U.S. custody in the aftermaths of the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

"My colleagues and I conducted detailed 8 medical evaluations 9 of these former Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo detainees and found clear physical and psychological evidence of torture and abuse, often causing lasting 10 suffering," he said.

Dr. Keller, who is experienced in dealing 11 with people who claim to have been tortured, says the evidence includes scars and damage to bones and joints 12, as well as clear signs of psychological trauma 13, including insomnia 14, nightmares, anxiety, severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder 15. He says the injuries match the detainees' allegations of abuse.

Pentagon Spokesman Bryan Whitman questioned the claims, saying the group acknowledges it does not have medical records for the former detainees from before they were taken into U.S. custody. He notes that the Defense 16 Department has done at least 12 investigations 18 of abuse allegations, and would do more if presented with credible 19 evidence, but he is not sure whether this report will merit such a response.

"The United States government's policies, procedures and doctrine 20 of this department has always supported the principle that we will treat everyone in our custody humanely," he said. "And where we find that there are people that do not live up to those values or that performance, we take action and we do hold people accountable."

Whitman also notes that the group examined only 11 former detainees of the thousands who have been held in U.S. custody during the last seven years, and he questioned whether the former detainees would be truthful 21.

Although similar abuse allegations have been made before, the president of Physicians for Human Rights, Leonard Rubenstein, says this report is different.

"It shows in a depth never before documented the human consequences of the Pentagon's decision to adopt techniques like prolonged isolation 22, stress positions, severe humiliation," he explained. "For most of the men, almost all of the men, the result was a horrific stew 23 of pain, degradation 24 and enduring suffering."

Much of the alleged abuse was related to interrogations, but Rubenstein says some was what he calls "gratuitous 25 cruelty" by guards.

The report also charges that military medical personnel participated in abusive interrogations, making sure detainees were healthy enough to continue but not stopping the abuse or reporting it.

Some of the techniques alleged in the report were approved by top Defense Department officials during a brief period in 2002 and 2003, but the approval was later rescinded 26. The detainees quoted in the report, whose names are not revealed, indicate they were abused approximately between 2001 and 2004.

Rubenstein called on the U.S. government to compensate 27 the men, and to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the alleged abuse.

"The truth of what happened to these men as human beings needs to come out," he added. "There has to be accountability for all responsible for what happened, not just the people on the site, the people up the chain of command, who either authorized 28 or condoned 29 what happened.

One of the doctors involved in the investigation 17, Sondra Crosby, has spent 15 years working with victims of torture. She believes these allegations are credible, and says the "ongoing 30 suffering" of these men "is palpable."

"The magnitude of the horrific abuses - psychological, physical and sexual - that I saw when evaluating these men are the worst I've ever seen. And they have had a profound effect on me," she said.

The senior medical advisor 31 to Physicians for Human Rights, Dr. Vince Iacopino, says the alleged involvement of medical personnel would be serious ethical 32 violation 33.

"It's pretty clear, after looking at a number of those cases, how unwilling 34 the clinicians are to venture into the realm of protecting people and speaking out for their health and well-being," he said. "Rather, they are helping 35 to keep people in a state of fitness for the interrogation purpose."

The report says U.S. military medical workers administered injections without telling the detainees what drugs they were being given. It also charges that personnel who treated the detainees for routine medical problems and provided psychological counseling shared information with interrogators, who used it to increase pressure on the detainees. The Defense Department has said in the past that such activity is prohibited.



adj.坚定的;有决心的
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
adv.有系统地
  • This government has systematically run down public services since it took office.这一屆政府自上台以来系统地削减了公共服务。
  • The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.雨林正被系统地毀灭。
a.被指控的,嫌疑的
  • It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
  • alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为
n.羞辱
  • He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
  • He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。
n.抢夺,掠夺,强奸;vt.掠夺,抢夺,强奸
  • The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
  • He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。
n.监护,照看,羁押,拘留
  • He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
  • He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后,他立即被押了起来。
n.调查者,审查者( investigator的名词复数 )
  • This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
  • The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》
adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的
  • He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
  • A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
估价( evaluation的名词复数 ); 赋值; 估计价值; [医学]诊断
  • In fact, our moral evaluations are merely expressions of our desires. 事实上,我们的道德评价只是我们欲望的表达形式。 来自哲学部分
  • Properly speaking, however, these evaluations and insights are not within the concept of official notice. 但准确地讲,这些评估和深远见识并未包括在官方通知概念里。
adj.永久的,永恒的;vbl.持续,维持
  • The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
  • We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。
n.经商方法,待人态度
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
接头( joint的名词复数 ); 关节; 公共场所(尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所) (非正式); 一块烤肉 (英式英语)
  • Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
  • Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。
n.外伤,精神创伤
  • Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
  • The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。
n.失眠,失眠症
  • Worries and tenseness can lead to insomnia.忧虑和紧张会导致失眠。
  • He is suffering from insomnia.他患失眠症。
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调
  • When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后,他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
  • It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩
  • 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。
n.调查,调查研究
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
(正式的)调查( investigation的名词复数 ); 侦查; 科学研究; 学术研究
  • His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查,但没有发现什么。
  • He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。
adj.可信任的,可靠的
  • The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
  • Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法?
n.教义;主义;学说
  • He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
  • The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。
adj.真实的,说实话的,诚实的
  • You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心,他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
  • I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。
n.隔离,孤立,分解,分离
  • The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
  • He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后,生活比较孤寂。
n.炖汤,焖,烦恼;v.炖汤,焖,忧虑
  • The stew must be boiled up before serving.炖肉必须煮熟才能上桌。
  • There's no need to get in a stew.没有必要烦恼。
n.降级;低落;退化;陵削;降解;衰变
  • There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。
  • Gambling is always coupled with degradation.赌博总是与堕落相联系。
adj.无偿的,免费的;无缘无故的,不必要的
  • His criticism is quite gratuitous.他的批评完全没有根据。
  • There's too much crime and gratuitous violence on TV.电视里充斥着犯罪和无端的暴力。
v.废除,取消( rescind的过去式和过去分词 )
  • Rescinded civil acts shall be null and void from the very beginning. 被撤销的民事行为从行为开始起无效。 来自互联网
  • They accepted his advice and rescinded the original plan. 他们听从了他的劝告,撤销了原计划。 来自互联网
vt.补偿,赔偿;酬报 vi.弥补;补偿;抵消
  • She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
  • Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。
a.委任的,许可的
  • An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。
v.容忍,宽恕,原谅( condone的过去式和过去分词 )
  • Terrorism can never be condoned. 决不能容忍恐怖主义。
  • They condoned his sins because he repented. 由于他的悔悟,他们宽恕了他的罪。 来自辞典例句
adj.进行中的,前进的
  • The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
  • The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。
n.顾问,指导老师,劝告者
  • They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
  • The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。
adj.伦理的,道德的,合乎道德的
  • It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
  • It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。
n.违反(行为),违背(行为),侵犯
  • He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说,那是违反规则的。
  • He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。
adj.不情愿的
  • The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
  • His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
学英语单词
abhorring
acquired cleftpalate
advertence
aggrege
approximate true elongation percentage
aural detector
auto cutter
Berilo
bootlegs
bresnahan
capitalised value
chromises
clobedolum
cold atmospheric leaching
conjugata
conservativeness
container freight station to door
contextual protection
contract for carriage
copperas
cost-per-action
Crocethia
cryptanthus zonatus
cylindrical auger
Cymothoidae
deglutition centre
dilute phase roasting
disapprovest
discors
divergence
duking
echo-signal
electric resistance thermometer
endotransglycosylases
flash-over relay
garment container
hawksworth
hierarchical interrupt
hill-and-dale
Horheim
host unreachable
Indochinese, Indo-Chinese
inertially balanced stabilized platform
interchange circuits
kot
kuessel
Le Massegros
letter bundling machine
memory attribute list
micrometeoritic
MO-MLV
moroccoes
Mututu
naphthalic aicd
national grid compang
numbered unit
pain phosphorus
pallidotomies
parental rights and duties
partes subcutanea
payload deployment and retrieval system
petunia
platanthera chloranthas
platypelloid
porfiry
propagules
quenching crack
remi inferior ossis ischii
repair truck
Rhododendron aganniphum
rickson
scandium oxalate
sense of worth
servo surface encoding
set priorities
sidles
specification of quality
state guarantee
stony iron-meteorite
sulfuric acid monohydrate
sweet meat
tar-pot
ternity
transmitter distortion
trust fund bureau
two sample t-test
U Thant
unassailableness
undefined length record
under water concrete
valeriane
ventresca
vernier theodolite
Von Hippel-Lindau disease
way to go
weaponizing
weigelias
weightiest
wrast
yanagisawa
yowlings
zero check