New Vocabulary 8: "A low-key visit to Germany by Bush."

From "A low-key visit to Germany by Bush," International Herald Tribune, June 9, 2008.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/09/europe/germany.php

* closeted: (adj) keeping somehting secret, especially the fact of being homosexual.

* walkabouts: (n) an informal stroll among a crowd conducted by an important visiter.

"Closeted away in the elegant Schloss Meseberg, the German government guest house north of Berlin where the president will dine with Merkel, Bush on Wednesday will be doing no walkabouts in Berlin and giving no major speeches. Instead, he will use the time talking to Merkel, one of his favorite leaders in Europe, about the Middle East, energy security and Iran."


* broker :(n) arrange or negotiate (an agreement)

"But she also brokered the compromise language about future aspirations for the countries, which eased the pain of rejection."


* brunt: (n) the worst part or chief impact of a specified action.

"Merkel too resisted pressure from Bush and NATO to send German troops to southern Afghanistan where U.S, British, Canadian, Dutch and Danish forces are taking the brunt of the fighting."


* vested interest: (n) a personal stake or involvement in an undrtaking or situation, especially one with an expectation of financial or other gain.

""The major players in both countries have a vested interest in maintaining and improving the relationship and making the trans-Atlantic bonds even closer," Voigt said."