VOA标准英语2008年-Bush Travels to Asia for Olympic Games, Talks

U.S. President George Bush leaves Washington Monday on what is likely to be his final official trip to Asia. VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson reports he will travel to South Korea, Thailand and China for the start of the Summer Olympics.

From the streets of Seoul, to the Olympic venues¹ in Beijing, this trip was controversial before it even began.
　

President Bush talks with US Olympic softball pitcher2 Jennie Finch3, during an event honoring 2008 US Summer Olympic Team

Mr. Bush was originally expected to travel to Seoul several weeks ago, following the G-8 summit in Japan. Those plans were changed when Koreans staged massive demonstrations⁴ to protest a deal on American beef imports, and to show their discontent with their government.

Byong-Ki Kim of Korea University in Seoul says it was the wrong time for a presidential visit.

"The timing⁵, let's say a month ago, would have been different for Bush to come," said Byong-Ki. "It is not only playing into the domestic political processes, but to possibly even be utilized⁶ politically in a very unproductive manner. It is purely⁷ domestic politics. It happens anywhere in the world."

Kim says the political climate is still volatile⁸ but has cooled a bit. And he says the Bush visit will show just how well the government can handle its diplomatic responsibilities.

The talks in Seoul are likely to focus on matters of trade and finance, as well as the status of American forces in South Korea. But North Korea's nuclear ambitions should dominate the discussions.

Derek Mitchell, an Asia policy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, calls North Korea a "legacy⁹ issue" for President Bush.

"He has a lot on the line and we are getting to the very difficult period on the issue of verification of the declaration the North Koreans have provided on their nuclear program," said Mitchell.

Mr. Bush is expected to shift focus in Thailand to another world trouble spot - neighboring Burma.

"Our message is the United States believes in democracy and freedom," he said.

Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirik of Bangkok's Chulalonghorn University says Mr. Bush may be focusing too much on Burma and not enough on other matters of concern in the region.

"When the Bush administration pays attention to Southeast Asia, it's about Burma. So, the US foreign policy has really not fully¹⁰ engaged in the region," said Pongsudhirik.

Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country on the trip, and the president will stay there less than 24 hours. The next day he will be off to Beijing where he hopes to play another role - that of sports fan.

"I think it would be good for these athletes who have worked hard to see their president, waving that flag," said Mr. Bush.

Derek Mitchell says that may be wishful thinking on the part of the president.

"The president simply can't go as a human being enjoying sports. The president goes with the full weight and prestige of the United States when he sits at the opening ceremonies and sees the celebration of China," said Mitchell.

Critics say Beijing's actions in Tibet and Sudan's Darfur region provide enough reason for a presidential boycott¹¹. But Mitchell says once Mr. Bush accepted the invitation from Chinese President Hu Jintao, there was no turning back.

"He said he was going immediately so it was much more difficult for him to backtrack from that without seeming to humiliate¹² or embarrass the Chinese people in some way," added Mitchell.

President Bush has said skipping the games would be an affront¹³ to the Chinese. And at a send-off ceremony for American Olympians at the White House, he said he can not wait to cheer them on in person.

"I'm fired up to go. I can't wait to salute¹⁴ our athletes, and I can't wait to share in the joy of your triumphs," he said.

The president said he sees the U.S. athletes as ambassadors of liberty, who will represent America's love for freedom in Beijing.

1 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

2 pitcher   

n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手

参考例句：

• He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。
• Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。

3 finch   

n.雀科鸣禽(如燕雀，金丝雀等)

参考例句：

• This behaviour is commonly observed among several species of finch.这种行为常常可以在几种雀科鸣禽中看到。
• In Australia,it is predominantly called the Gouldian Finch.在澳大利亚，它主要还是被称之为胡锦雀。

4 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

5 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

6 utilized   

v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• In the19th century waterpower was widely utilized to generate electricity. 在19世纪人们大规模使用水力来发电。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The empty building can be utilized for city storage. 可以利用那栋空建筑物作城市的仓库。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

8 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

9 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

10 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

11 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

12 humiliate   

v.使羞辱，使丢脸[同]disgrace

参考例句：

• What right had they to bully and humiliate people like this?凭什么把人欺侮到这个地步呢？
• They pay me empty compliments which only humiliate me.他们虚情假意地恭维我，这只能使我感到羞辱。

13 affront   

n./v.侮辱，触怒

参考例句：

• Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。
• This remark caused affront to many people.这句话得罪了不少人。

14 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。