Robert Hanssen， the FBI1 contends2， sold the Soviets and the Russian government U.S. intelligence3 on Russian double agents， U.S. surveillance4 techniques， and other highly sensitive information for over 15 years.
If the government's accusations are correct， FBI agent Robert Philip Hanssen sold out his country for cash and diamonds. There apparently was no higher principle motivating Mr. Hanssen's alleged5 treachery6.
Mr. Hanssen had worked for the FBI for 25 years， spending most of that time in counterintelligence7——spying on Soviet and then Russian espionage8 outposts9 in the United States. He is said to have contacted the Soviets in 1985， offering them information in exchange for money. A 100-page affidavit10 released by the FBI on Tuesday， when Hanssen， 56， was arraigned11 on espionage charges， alleges that Hannssen in 1985 sent a letter to a Soviet agent volun teering to provide classified12 intelligence information in exchange for ＄ 100，000. For the next 15 years， the affidavit says， Hanssen passed along to Soviet and later Russian agents 6，000 pages of documents on secret programs that described how the U.S.gathers intelligence， technologies used for listening， people who work as double agents and other highly sensitive matters.
The veteran13 spy was arrested Sunday evening just after leaving a package of classified documents for his Russian handlers at a designated14 " dead drop15" in suburban Virginia. On Tuesday， he was charged with espionage and conspiracy16 to commit espionage.
According to federal authorities，Mr. Hanssen turned over to the Russians important documents about U.S. nuclear programs， long-range plans for U.S. intelligence gathering and detailed information on this country's electronic surveillance techniques and targets. In addition， he identified Soviet double agents working for the United States， two of whom were called back to Moscow and executed during the Cold War.
No one should be shocked that the United States and other countries engage in spying. They do it in peacetime as well as during wars. Friends spy on friends. Even after the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union， Moscow and Washington keep tabs on17 each other clandestinely18. But treason is another matter.
FBI Director Louis Freeh called Mr.Hanssen's behavior " the most traitorous19 actions imaginable" and intelligence experts say the double agent did " extremely grave" damage to national security.
If Mr.Hanssen is found guilty， he should spend the rest of his life in prison. Would-be double agents ought to know that there is a stiff 20 price to pay for treason.
美国联邦调查局声称，罗伯特·汉森在过去15年中，向苏联政府和俄国政府出卖了有关俄罗斯双重间谍和美国的监视技术的情报，以及其他高度敏感的情报。
如果政府的指控属实，联邦调查局特工罗伯特·菲利普·汉森为了金钱和钻石出卖了自己的国家。显然，这是诱导汉森先生做出被指控的背叛行为的最高原则。
汉森先生已在联邦调查局效力25年，这期间，他大部分时间是从事反间谍工作，刺探苏联以及后来的俄国在美国的谍报前哨的情报。据说他早在1985年就与苏联有联络，向他们提供情报获取酬劳。周二联邦调查局发布了一份100页的对汉森的起诉书。汉森，现年56岁，被指控犯有间谍罪。起诉书称，1985年汉森致信一名苏联特工，自愿提供机密情报，要价为10万美元。在以后的15年中，汉森陆续向苏联特工和后来的俄国特工提供了6000页的文件，其中涉及美国如何收集情报的秘密计划、侦听技术、从事双重间谍工作的人员，以及其他高度敏感的问题。
周日晚，在弗吉尼亚郊外的一个指定的情报藏匿地点，在为俄国接头人藏好一包机密文件后，这个资深特工就被逮捕了。接着在周二，汉森被指控犯有间谍罪和间谍同谋罪。
据联邦当局透露，汉森先生曾向俄国人传递了许多重要文件，其中有美国核计划、美国收集情报的长期计划，以及有关国家电子监控技术和目标的详细资料。此外，汉森还透露了为美国工作的苏联双重间谍的身份，其中两名在冷战期间被召回莫斯科后被处决。
美国和其他国家都从事间谍活动，这谁也不应感到惊讶。间谍活动战争期间有，和平时期也有。朋友刺探朋友的秘密。甚至在冷战结束和苏联解体之后，莫斯科与华盛顿之间仍在相互秘密监视。然而叛国就要另当别论了。
联邦调查局局长刘易斯·弗里称汉森先生的所作所为是"能想象到的最恶劣的背叛行径".情报专家说，这个双重间谍为国家安全造成了"极为严重的"损害。
如果汉森先生被叛有罪，他将在牢狱中度过余生。想当双重间谍者应该明白，叛国要付出极其重大的代价。
注释：
1.FBIabbr.FederalBureauofInvestigation美国联邦调查局
2.contend vt.声称，宣称
3.intelligence n.情报
4.surveillance n.监视
5.alleged adj.被指控的
6.treachery n.背叛行为
7.counterintelligence n.反间谍活动
8.espionage n.间谍行为，谍报活动
9.outpost n.[军]前哨，警戒部队
10.affidavit n.[律]书面陈述
11.arraign vt.[律]传讯，控告
12.classified adj.[口]秘密的
13.veteran n.经验丰富的人，老手
14.designate vt.指定，标出
15.deaddrop情报的秘密放置点
16.conspiracy n.[律]同谋，共谋
17.keeptabson密切注意…的动态，监视…的一举一动
18.clandestinely adv.秘密地，暗中地
19.traitorous adj.谋叛的，犯叛国罪的
20.stiff adj.[口]（物价）高昂的，过高的