高中英语 voa常速听力2012年08月合辑文本covert-smuggling-trail-arms-syrian-rebels素材.docVIP

VOA常速英语听力2012年08月合辑（文本）：Covert-Smuggling-Trail-Arms-Syrian-Rebels ANTAKYA, Turkey — Some Western and Arab Gulf powers say they are increasing humanitarian and support aid to the Syrian opposition. At the Turkey-Syria border, the main conduit for foreign aid to rebel fighters, there are signs the aid trail also may include covert arms smuggling.The Turkish city of Antakya is a hub for Syria. Its what analysts say most of the deals are being forged to aid the Free Syria Army rebels. But few people here will openly admit that foreign countries are arming the opposition. Ahmad al-Kanatre Abu Hamza, commander of the Omar al-Mukhtar brigade of the FSA, told VOA last month that most of his fighters weapons are taken from Syrian forces. Almost all our weapons are confiscated from the defeated regime army. We get no help from other countries, he said. All our arms are light weapons and they are old. Opposition supporters have posted videos on social media sites allegedly showing big caches of weapons - mainly Kalashnikov rifles - and ammunition. Their origin is unknown. Foreign officials, including those in the U.S. and Britain, publicly say assistance to the Syrian opposition is limited to humanitarian and educational programs. In unguarded moments, however, rebel fighters admit to receiving foreign arms. Jonathan Eyal, an analyst at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, said details are slowly emerging about international weapons trails to the rebels. Very few countries admit to having a direct role although the veil of silence is slowly being lifted, he said. The channels are Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the lead, with the Turkish government and the American government once-removed. The covert nature of the trade - and the presence of Syrian government troops close to the border - limits the flow of weapons to rifles, pistols, and possibly a few rocket-propelled grenades, says former CIA intelligence analyst Bob Ayers. You wouldnt start from scratch. And the inte