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Re: The Day After
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flayva
Laura Bush May Make Trip to Afghanistan
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Dec 1 03 1:49 PM
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Laura Bush May Make Trip to Afghanistan
By Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters
WASHINGTON (Dec. 1) - U.S. first lady Laura Bush said Monday she was considering a trip to Afghanistan next year, after her husband's surprise Thanksgiving trip to Baghdad that she said left her ''anxious'' while he was gone.
''I hope I'll have a chance in the spring to go to Afghanistan,'' Mrs. Bush told reporters as she began the Christmas season by accepting the official White House tree.
The possible trip was a sign Mrs. Bush may play an increasing role in the Bush administration's effort to polish an international image tarnished by charges of arrogance in foreign policy.
Her spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, said an Afghanistan trip had not yet been scheduled. He said Mrs. Bush had had a particular interest in the country since a U.S.-led invasion in 2001 overthrew the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban rulers.
''Mrs. Bush has been interested in the rights of women, not only in the entire world, but specifically in Afghanistan since the Taliban were learned to be so repressive to women,'' he said. ''She wants to continue to take that message around the world.''
Mrs. Bush's international profile rose during a trip to Paris and Moscow in September in which she was kissed on the hand by French President Jacques Chirac, who had had fundamental policy differences with Washington.
On that trip she led the United States back into the main U.N. cultural body UNESCO after an 19-year absence.
''She will continue to have an active role in spreading the message of the United States and what we stand for,'' Johndroe said.
President Bush has not visited Afghanistan, where a U.S.-led force of 11,600 troops is hunting remaining Taliban fighters and members of the militant al Qaeda network.
Bush's visit to Iraq last Thursday was kept a close secret until he had left the conflict-ridden country.
Mrs. Bush said she and the Bushes' twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, had known of the trip in advance. She broke the news to the president's parents -- former President George Bush and Barbara Bush -- as they arrived for Thanksgiving dinner.
''We were anxious, there was a lot of anxiety; the girls were nervous,'' she said. ''But we're all so really proud of the President. We were just sorry we didn't get to go with him.''
Asked by reporters if the president had any plans for a Christmas trip, she joked, ''Not that I know of right now, but don't worry, I'll let you know first thing when I hear.''
12/01/03 1412 ET
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited.
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