2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Meets Indonesian President Amid Street Pro

By Paula Wolfson
Bogor, Indonesia
20 November 2006

President Bush is showing support for the government of Indonesia, the nation with the world's largest Muslim population and a key ally in the war on terror. During the six-hour visit to the hill town of Bogor, Mr. Bush conferred with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

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They met Monday in a presidential palace in Bogor - a scenic¹ town about 60 kilometers from Jakarta. 

joint2 press conference as Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono looks on in Bogor Palace, outside of Jakarta, Indonesia, November 20, 2006 " src="/upimg/allimg/070509/1403080.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> George W. Bush, left, speaks during a joint press conference as Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono looks on in Bogor Palace, outside of Jakarta, Indonesia, November 20, 2006

The talks ended with words of cooperation from the American and Indonesian leaders. But the warm welcome Mr. Bush got at the presidential palace was not matched in the streets of Indonesia. In Bogor and elsewhere, there were protests against the presidential visit.

Indonesia is a country with a democratic government, and practices a mostly moderate form of Islam. But there is anger here over U.S. policy in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a perceived American bias³ in favor of Israel. President Bush has been portrayed⁴ by some here as anti-Islam.

Mr. Bush tried to put the protests in the most positive light, saying they were a sign of a vibrant⁵ democracy.

"I applaud a society where people are free to come and express their opinion," he said. "And it is to Indonesia's credit that it is a society where people are able to protest and say what they think."

He called Indonesia an example of how democracy and modernization⁶ can present an alternative to extremism. Mr. Bush said President Yudhoyono understands the power of democracy and knows it is a universal right.

"Your democracy is making Indonesia strong and better able to play a positive role in Southeast Asia and the world," he said.

During a session with reporters, President Bush defended his policies in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East. He was asked at one point if more U.S. troops might be needed in Iraq. Mr. Bush said he is getting a lot of advice about Iraq, but cautioned that no decisions are imminent⁷.

"I haven't made any decisions about troop increases or decreases, and won't, until I hear from a variety of sources," said Mr. Bush.

For his part, President Yudhoyono said he favors a multi-facetted approach to ending the conflict in Iraq. He said there must be an emphasis on national reconciliation⁸ and bolstering⁹ the young Iraqi government. And, he stressed that any long-term solution depends on the ability of other countries to step in and help.

"We have to involve other parties," he said. "We have to probably deploy¹⁰ and employ a new set-up of security forces in parallel with, someday at a proper timetable, the disengagement of U.S. military forces and coalition¹¹ forces from Iraq."

In addition to Iraq, the talks at the Bogor Palace covered a wide range of issues, including North Korea, the search for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and the development of alternative fuels.

Mr. Bush came to Indonesia Monday from Vietnam, where he attended the Asia-Pacific economic summit in Hanoi, and met with business leaders and medical researchers in Ho Chi Minh City.

1 scenic   

adj.自然景色的，景色优美的

参考例句：

• The scenic beauty of the place entranced the visitors.这里的美丽风光把游客们迷住了。
• The scenic spot is on northwestern outskirts of Beijing.这个风景区位于北京的西北远郊。

2 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

3 bias   

n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见

参考例句：

• They are accusing the teacher of political bias in his marking.他们在指控那名教师打分数有政治偏见。
• He had a bias toward the plan.他对这项计划有偏见。

4 portrayed   

v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• Throughout the trial, he portrayed himself as the victim. 在审讯过程中，他始终把自己说成是受害者。
• The author portrayed his father as a vicious drunkard. 作者把他父亲描绘成一个可恶的酒鬼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

6 modernization   

n.现代化，现代化的事物

参考例句：

• This will help us achieve modernization.这有助于我们实现现代化。
• The Chinese people are sure to realize the modernization of their country.中国人民必将实现国家现代化。

7 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

8 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

9 bolstering   

v.支持( bolster的现在分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• Why should Donahue's people concern themselves with bolstering your image? 唐纳休的人为什么要费心维护你的形象？ 来自辞典例句
• He needed bolstering and support. 他需要别人助他一臂之力。 来自辞典例句

10 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

11 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。