VOA标准英语2009年-Muted, Mixed Reaction in Asia to Obama Nob（在线收听）

By Kate Pound Dawson
Bangkok
09 October 2009

 
President Barack Obama at the White House
 
The surprise announcement that President Barack Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize brought muted and mixed reaction in Asia.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee gave the prize Friday to Mr. Obama for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

The award comes nine months after Mr. Obama took office.
 
The president, the son of an African immigrant and an American mother is extremely popular overseas, unlike his predecessor President George W. Bush. He is particularly well-liked in Indonesia, where Mr. Obama spent part of his childhood, living in Jakarta with his mother and stepfather.

Wimar Witoelar is a political commentator and former presidential spokesman in Jakarta. He calls the announcement fantastic news.

"The Nobel Prize is not defined in terms of cookbook recipes, not like you have to disarm 5,000 people and you win the Peace Prize," Witoelar said. "But his inspiration, his leadership, I think he has done already, just by getting elected, he has taken America away from the path of mass destruction. I mean Bush was committing mass destruction. And now he has taken the American people on the road to peace. Now how is that for achievement! And then he has confirmed to people in Indonesia who are for moderation, pluralism, that we can believe in America and the more people believe in a peaceful America, the more peace there will be in this world."