World Report: October 31, 2003 Vol. 9 Iss. 7
- This Issue:
- Table of Contents
- Cover Story
- Cover Story - Spanish Version
- Mini-Lesson
- Comprehension Quiz
- Teacher's Guide and Worksheets
Bush Takes a Quick Trip to Asia
Last week, President George W. Bush wrapped up a whirl-wind eight-day, six-nation trip. Bush traveled to Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia.
The President made a stop in Bangkok, Thailand, for the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting. Leaders from 21 nations, including the United States, China and Russia, attended the meeting. They promised to crack down on terror groups and to work to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
But the focus of Bush's trip was to thank America's allies in the war against terrorism. On Wednesday, he spent three intense hours in Bali, Indonesia, where terrorist bomb blasts killed 202 people last year. Warships patrolled the seas, and the airport was closed during the President's visit. "Today, we reaffirm our commitment to win the war on terror," Bush told Indonesia's president, Megawati Sukarnoputri.
The President's last stop was Australia. Thousands of antiwar protesters greeted him outside the Parliament building in Canberra, the country's capital. During Bush's speech to Australia's lawmakers, two senators yelled at him. "I love free speech," Bush told the assembly.
