Laura Bush Takes Quick Trip to Afghanistan

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON - First lady Laura Bush set out Tuesday for a quick visit to Afghanistan, undertaking a trip to a war-torn country where American forces are still battling a stubborn Taliban-led insurgency.

Mrs. Bush has wanted to visit Afghanistan for a couple of years but delayed the journey, mostly because of security concerns. Her trip was kept secret until just before she left from Andrews Air Force Base near Washington.

She was to arrive in Kabul at midday Wednesday and spend about five hours on the ground, spending most of her time being briefed on educational initiatives for Afghan women. She also will meet with President Hamid Karzai and have dinner with U.S. forces at Bagram Air Base north of Kabul.
....
The first lady was accompanied by Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. Her twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, did not accompany her, Whiston said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&ncid=693&e=1&u=/ap/20050329/ap_on_go_pr_wh/laura_bush_afghanistan

[yellowcanine]

1. Is she buying rugs for the pig farm?

I can't imagine why else she would want to go there.

[kskiska]

3. She can buy a lot of rugs in 5 hours.

And I'm sure that, as an elementary school librarian, she can do a lot for Afghan schools.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

8. She is going to give lessons to the Afghan women how to be

subservient to their husbands in the mode of a good repug wife. They are getting entirely out of hand with their ideas of freedom, education and running for political office. Not only is she going to spread Christianity to the middle east while she is there she is going to take copies of "The Stepford Wives" for public viewing.

Can't imagine what she thinks she is going to do over there except take the white hot laser light off of King Chimpy and his band of feckless thugs and all of their mis-steps. We will be "treated" to unlimited photo ops by the poodle press.

[Arkana]

23. She's probably decided to join that Al-Sadr guy

I knew Laura would snap one day--couldn't keep her on Xanax forever.

[ewagner]

2. ????

Why would this be announced before her arrival if security is a concern?

This trip is a dangerous PR stunt. Is Dubya TRYING to get her killed off? Why was it necessary to note that the twins didn't accompany her?

Something is afoot here...some Kkkarl Rove PR stunt in the making although I'm just not sure what it is....

[fryguy]

7. PR stunt you say?

fly half-way around the world for about five hours of briefing??? what the hell else could it be other than a PR stunt?

[VegasWolf]

30. She want's to convert a Muslim for the fun of it. n/t

[madrchsod]

4. educating Afghan women?

ya right....

[fryguy]

5. "holy waste of money batman!"

Anyone want to take a stab at how much it will be costing for pickles to make here little trip? I'm sure it would be far far less expensive and much more effective in terms of meetings to fly each and every person she will be meeting back to Washington for a visit insted of having her go half-way around the world to spend "about five hours on the ground" being briefed....

Remember the days when the repukes criticized Clinton for wasting money by getting a haircut on Air Force One or when that staffer used a helicopter to play a round of golf? Funny how there's no similar reaction here....

[madrchsod]

6. wait a minute ,i thought she was in charge

of getting rid of the gangs in the usa or has she done this already?

[tanyev]

9. Oh, it's done.

Mission Accomplished, dontcha' know. Where have you been?

[Up2Late]

18. Maybe, this is her turn to "Land on the Aircraft Carrier?"

Or as they call it in the T.V. industry, "She's gonna Jump the Shark."

[shantipriya]

24. Laura & the gangs

She realised that all the gangs are in blue states !!!

[gratuitous]

10. Security concerns?

I thought Afghanistan was a totally functioning democracy with its own government, TV stations, educational system, and everything. What security concerns could there possibly be with Mr. Karzai in charge???

But yeah, how much is this little PR stunt going to cost? In case nobody's noticed (and the major media certainly haven't), we seem to be running the teeniest, tiniest budget deficit. Is a discretionary trip to a world hot spot by the First Lady REALLY the highest and best use of federal money right now?

[fryguy]

12. i heard WalMart opened up there.....

the true sign of freedom!

/sarcasm

[Spazito]

11. An attempt to divert from bush's screw up re Schiavo?

Another 'look over here' effort I think and another 'plastic turkey'/Mission Accomplished PR failure I suspect.

[Up2Late]

13. Laura Bush to Visit Afghanistan This Week

(Has anyone told LB that they don't really have good places to get a Cheese Burger?):crazy:

Laura Bush to Visit Afghanistan This Week

Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:25 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - First lady Laura Bush will make a quick visit to Afghanistan this week to greet U.S. troops and offer support for Afghan women, the White House said on Tuesday.

President Bush's wife was departing on Tuesday morning on a trip that will include a stop at Bagram Air Base north of Kabul to speak to U.S. troops and a tour of a teacher training institute.

© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

[havocmom]

14. Gonna lobby for library cards for girls?

What in the world are they thinking?

[rooboy]

15. Geez, this woman will go to extraordinary lengths to duck out for a smoke.

eom.

[riverwalker]

16. 5 hours on the ground

Oh yeah, a real in-depth fact finding tour. Even their photo ops are shallow. With Afghan opium production at record highs, maybe she will revive the Just Say No campaign.

[Up2Late]

17. How many pictures can you passably take of Mrs. Xanax

I mean really, unless she puts on a funny hat, their is truly is nothing to see here.

Click picture to see or buy more posters like this one.

[leftofthedial]

19. she's run out of upholstery fabric for her wardrobe

and is looking for some vibrant Springtime plaids.

[tinrobot]

20. Dime Bag Laura must be dealing smack these days.

n/t

[Up2Late]

26. Yeah, she's just going over to check on Hubbies "Investments"

Going over to "Look at all the Pretty Poppy flowers."

[Doremus]

21. It was either send Laura to the Mideast or raise the terror threat

When the approval rating slips, KKKarl knows what to do.

[donsu]

22. what's the deal with Afghanistan? first Rush and girlfriend and now

miss goody two shoes.

maybe Afghan. is just the front and it's where they go after Afghan. and before they head home?

could they be carrying something to Afghan.?

[Up2Late]

27. Hummmmmmm? You just gave me an idea.

What is this type of trip is how "they" are getting most of the cheep Heroin into the country? What a great way to get it past the curious eyes of the DEA.:think:

[maxsolomon]

25. say it with me, laura: RAWA

http://pz.rawa.org/rawa/index.html

THIS is who should have been put in charge after the taliban were ousted.

but that would have been THE CHRISTIAN THING to do, so we can't have that.

[Demeter]

28. Why, In God's Name, Would She Do Such a Stupid Thing?

Offering herself in exchange for Bin Ladin? Unlikely.

Succoring the women of Afghanistan with mordern medicine and textbooks? Not a chance.

Bringing food aid? Don't make me laugh.

Causing ruckus and being a big pain in the ass? She can do that at home!

[XemaSab]

29. I'm frankly surprised

that they're calling attention to afghanistan at all.

Cause no news is good news, and we ain't heard no news from there for a while. Which is good news for the Bush administration.

Talibinforgotten.

[buff2]

31. Terri Schiavo has trumped her in the media....

The stupid stepford wife had to do something to grab the spotlight back to her.More tax payer money wasted that could have went to SOCIAL SECURITY. :grr: