This was a historic moment, or rather, a historically shameful moment. Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell wielding the infamous "test tube full of washing powder" as evidence of weapons of mass destruction being developed in Iraq in 2003. They never found any before or after the war, but the US invaded Iraq anyway. 这是一个历史性时刻，更准确地说，一个历史性的耻辱时刻。美国前国务卿科林·鲍威尔摇晃着那个臭名昭著的“装着洗衣粉的试管”，作为伊拉克2003年在研发大规模杀伤性武器的证据。美国在战前战后都未找到这类武器，但他们还是入侵了伊拉克。 That moment is looming large again in front of us.历史似乎又要重演。 President Trump made the claim on April 30 that he has seen evidence that the coronavirus came from a lab in Wuhan.4月30日，特朗普总统说他看到过新冠病毒源于武汉某实验室的证据。 On May 3, when asked on ABC news whether he believes the virus was manmade or genetically modified, Secretary Pompeo said, "Look, the best experts so far seem to think it was man-made. I have no reason to disbelieve that at this point."5月3日，蓬佩奥接受美国广播公司采访时被问到他是否相信病毒是人造或者基因改造的。蓬佩奥回答说：“你看，最棒的专家至今似乎都认为这个病毒是人造的。我现在没有理由不相信。” The next day, President Trump reportedly retracted from his early claim saying he meant the virus "got out" of Wuhan, not the lab specifically.第二天，据报道，特朗普总统改口了，说他的意思是病毒来自武汉，但不一定来自这个实验室。 The World Health Organization responded: We have not received any data or specific evidence from the US government relating to the purported origin of the virus. So from our perspective, this remains speculative… (Dr. Michael Ryan, World Health Organization)世界卫生组织回应道：我们没有收到美国政府提供的有关病毒源头的任何数据或者具体证据。对我们来说，美方的说法只是推测。（世界卫生组织迈克尔·莱恩） Mark Milley, Joint Chiefs Chair Gen: The weight of evidence, not that it’s conclusive, the weight of evidence is that it was natural and not manmade. The second issue is, was it accidentally released, did it release naturally into the environment, or was it intentional? We don't have conclusive evidence of any of that. But the weight of evidence is that it was probably not intentional. The third issue is location. Did it come out of a virology lab in Wuhan? Did it occur in the wet market there in Wuhan or did it occur somewhere else? And the answer to that is we don't know...美军参谋长联席会议主席马克·米利：现有证据，不能下结论，不过从现有证据来看，新冠病毒源于自然，不是人造的。第二点，病毒是意外泄露吗？是不小心排放到环境中，还是故意泄露的？我们没有确凿证据，不过看起来可能不是故意的。第三点是关于地点。病毒来自武汉的某病毒实验室？还是武汉“湿货”市场？还是出现在其他地方？答案是我们不知道。 A day later, Mike Pompeo admitted that U.S. can't be sure that the virus originated from the lab in Wuhan, despite "significant evidence"…一天之后，蓬佩奥承认美国不能确定病毒源于武汉某实验室，虽然他们有“重要证据”。 So what's behind this constant self-contradiction? Don't they hear, don't they understand how ridiculous they sound?为什么这些自相矛盾停不下来？他们听不到、听不出自己有多荒谬吗？ My answer is no and yes. Pathological liars just can't hear themselves. But for this administration, they must know they have to speak gibberish in order to muddy the waters and keep the discourse away from the real issues. 我的答案既是否定的，也是肯定的。病理性撒谎者从来不觉得自己在撒谎。但是这届政府，他们揣着明白装糊涂，就是要不停地胡说八道，把水搅浑，以防人们聚焦真正的问题。 Their goal is to deceive people in the U.S. and around the world, to keep them divided and angry, using their baton of lies to make sure people just look the way this administration wants them to. Otherwise, people will immediately notice the big suspicious lump under the carpet this administration is standing on. 他们的目的是欺骗美国以及世界各地的民众，让他们在分裂和愤怒中无法自拔，只能被这个政府用谎言指挥棒牵着鼻子走。否则的话，人们会立刻注意到这个草台班子快捂不住了。 How did 77,000 people lose their lives already? What kind of responsibility must they shoulder? President Trump was briefed on the outbreak on Jan 23, so how come the death toll is the highest in the world? The administration has been defending Trump's "big," "wise" decision of shutting down "borders with China" in early Feb. But if this decision was so big and wise, how come there are nearly 1.3 million people infected already in the U.S.? 七万七千多人是如何丧命的？这届政府要买多大的单？特朗普总统1月23号就收到了关于疫情的汇报，为什么美国的死亡人数高至全球第一？他们反复兜售特朗普二月初做出的关闭“与中国之间边界”的这一“重大”“明智”之举。可是这个决策如果真的那么“重大”那么“明智”，美国为啥会有一百三十万人左右感染？ This administration cannot answer these questions because they are a big part of the answer. For sure, the virus is a cunning one, bringing many countries to their knees. But not all countries have had it as bad as the United States. Isn't America the most powerful country in the world? Why such a high number of casualties? Should this question be thoroughly discussed? President Trump challenged China’s low fatality rate. But does it ever cross people's minds why the fatalities in the U.S. have been so high? 这届政府不能回答这些问题，因为他们几乎就是答案本身。当然，这个病毒很狡猾，让很多国家都很狼狈，但不是每个国家都像美国这样惨烈。美国不是全世界最强大的国家吗？为什么感染数字这么高？这个问题是不是应该好好探讨一下？特朗普总统质疑中国的死亡率低。不过人们有没有想过，为什么美国的死亡人数这么高？ And under such circumstances, he's even been calling for states to be "liberated." 在这种情况下，他还号召“解放”更多的州。 When asked if lives are being jeopardized with the reopening, he said the people of his country are warriors. "Will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes. But we have to get our country opened, and we have to get it open soon." Meanwhile, polls show some 70% of Americans are somewhat or very much worried about contracting COVID-19.当被问到重启经济是否会伤及生命时，他说，这个国家的人民都是勇士。“有人会被病毒感染吗？是的。有人会病得很重吗？是的。不过我们要让我们的国家重启，我们要尽快重启。”与此同时，民调显示约70%的美国人有些或者很担心感染新冠肺炎。 This has been and will continue to be a vicious cycle. The worse this administration does in fighting the virus, the more people will die. The more people die, the more this administration needs to deflect the blame.这个恶性循环还会继续。这个班子越抗疫不力，死的人就越多；死的人越多，他们越需要甩锅。 A classic case can give us an idea of how they will do just that. In October 2016, a recording made headlines in which Trump bragged about how he takes pride in treating women badly. Instead of apologizing, his team's tactic was to bring his opponent down with him. They hatched a presser with four women who claimed to have been sexually abused by former U.S. President Bill Clinton in Trump Tower. When journalists asked Trump how he could defend himself, one of the "victims" chimed in: "Why don't you ask Clinton that? Why don't y'all ask Bill Clinton that? Go ahead and ask Hillary as well." (Paula Jones)我们可以从一个经典的案例对他们的伎俩窥见一斑。2016年10月，一份录像资料引起轩然大波，其中特朗普吹嘘自己可以怎样随意玩弄女性。结果，他没有出来道歉，反而在竞选团队建议下把对手也拉下水。他们在特朗普大厦里匆匆炮制了一场新闻发布会，邀请了四名自称被美国前总统克林顿强奸过的女性。当记者问特朗普怎样为自己辩论时，其中一位“受害者”抢着说：“你为啥不问克林顿那个问题？你们为什么不都去问比尔·克林顿？再去问问希拉里吧。”（宝拉·琼斯，曾指控美国前总统涉嫌性侵） One month later, he won the presidential election.一个月之后，特朗普成功当选总统。 The same theater is being staged with regard to COVID-19. Don't ask why the U.S. has done a bad job, but ask why China let the virus spread, among many other theories? There are no convenient witnesses? Never mind, ask the intelligence communities: this is what I want you to prove, go and get me the evidence.现在，围绕新冠肺炎，一场同样的闹剧正在上演。不要问美国为什么抗疫不力，而是问中国为什么“任由病毒传播”，等等等等。没有方便的证人？没关系，给情报机构下命令：这是我要你们证明的结论，现在去找证据吧。 So far, their efforts have been stalling forcing them to retract their bold allegations. But from their track record, such efforts will continue, for them to cling on to the few pieces of rags on their bodies through telling clumsy lies and spreading rumors. 到目前为止，他们甩锅不成，只得有所收敛。不过从他们一贯的纪录来看，他们不会死心，还会试着通过散布漏洞百出的谎言和谣言来护住已经千疮百孔的遮羞布。 People in America and around the world, be vigilant. No matter where the virus came from, we must not let a small group of people mislead us down a path of conflict, even downright confrontation. The image of Collin Powell wielding that infamous "test tube" is not just an eternal moment of shame for his decorated career, but for all those who agreed with him, who applauded him, who followed him, who didn't actively oppose him, or who simply gave him the benefit of the doubt. It's been a moment of shame, which has cost mankind dearly. Don't let history repeat itself. And the American people, you are the first line of potential victims this time. You have a president who suggests injecting disinfectants to treat the virus and a clique who would nod at anything he says. Their ultimate goal is not to defeat the virus, but to cling on to the crown in their hands. Everything else is secondary.美国和世界各地的人们啊，你们要千万小心。不管病毒源自何处，我们都不能让一小撮人把我们带到通往对立甚至彻底对抗的不归路。科林·鲍威尔摇晃“试管”的倒霉形象不仅是他个人生涯中抹不掉的污点，也是所有同意他、为他鼓掌、追随他、没有积极反对他，以及给他机会证明自己的那些人身上的污点。这个时刻让世界付出了沉重代价。别让历史重新来过。美国朋友们，你们是潜在的第一受害者，有一位让你们考虑注射消毒剂的总统，还有一个对其唯唯是诺的团伙。他们最终的目的不是战胜病毒，而是保住他们手中的王冠。别的都是次要的。