Wednesday - March 01, 2006

Bush In Kabul

Dubya slipped into Afghanistan yesterday while no one was looking. Fortunately, the side trip was safely completed ... not that it couldn’t have been a problem thanks to every mainstream media asshat on the planet speculating for the last few days about the possibility of such a quick trip into the danger zone. I’m surprised the NY Times didn’t headline yesterday’s paper “HEY, TALIBAN! BUSH IS COMING!”

Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Afghanistan
March 1, 2006, 5:01 AM EST

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)
By TERENCE HUNT
AP White House Correspondent

President Bush made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Wednesday, flying here secretly to support its fledging government in the face of rising violence from al-Qaida and Taliban militants. Bush’s entourage flew into the city from Bagram Air Base in a flotilla of heavily armed helicopters. Two door gunners on a press helicopter fired off a short burst of machine gun fire at unknown targets as the aircraft flew low and fast over barren countryside.

Bush arrived safely at the presidential palace where he was greeted by Afghanistan’s leader Hamid Karzai. The two men walked down a red carpet past a military honor guard to begin their meetings. “Welcome the president to Afghanistan,” Karzai said as they paused for photographs. Eight weeks ago when Bush signed off on the India-Pakistan visit he was presented with the option of also going to Afghanistan, said White House press secretary Scott McClellan.

The White House closely guarded the secret, but there was widespread speculation that he would make the stop in Afghanistan. “This is an opportunity to show our support for a good friend and ally and emerging democracy,” McClellan said. “We stand firmly with the people of Afghanistan as they are charting their own future.” While Bush and Karzai met, their wives, Laura Bush and Zinat Karzai met over lunch with other women.

Bush also was to preside over a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the U.S. Embassy. Before leaving Afghanistan, Bush was to get a pep talk to troops back at Bagram Air Base. It was Bush’s second visit to a war front. His first was a secret trip to have Thanksgiving Dinner in 2003 with U.S. troops in Iraq. Speaking of secrecy concerns, McClellan said, “There are security precautions that were taken and we are confident in the security precautions that have been taken. One of those was not informing you of the trip until now.”

- More on the story here ...

Posted by The Skipper     on 03/01/2006 at 05:38 AM   
Filed Under: • News-Briefs •  
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