President Bush visits Kabul, page 1

posted on Mar, 1 2006 @ 03:09 AM

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George W Bush , the US president made a unscheduled diversion to Afghanistan after a routine visit to India .
Amid great secrecy , Airforce one touched down at Baghram Airbase

www.chron.com
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan — President Bush made a surprise visit to Aghanistan on Wednesday, flying here secreterly to support its fledging government in the face of rising violence from al-Qaida and Taliban militants.

Bush made a detour from a trip to India for a five-hour visit here that was not announced officially until Air Force One landed at this sprawling military base north of Kabul.

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not to be unkind , but why ? call me cynical but its just a cheap shot publicity stunt

IMHO everyone is going to spin this to suit their own ends , I just wonder what the Afghans got out of it , apart from major disruption to their schedule.

[edit on 1-3-2006 by Thomas Crowne]

[edit on 5-3-2006 by asala]

Hellmutt

posted on Mar, 1 2006 @ 11:30 PM

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Bush´s visit to Pakistan is expected to cause massive demonstrations. And two carbombs just exploded in Karachi near the American Consulate. There are some people reported killed as well as wounded. No english link yet. Norwegian link here.

Edit: Here is CNN:
Karachi blasts kill 4; dozens hurt

U.S. diplomat among dead, U.S. President Bush says

[edit on 2006/3/2 by Hellmutt]

Beachcoma

posted on Mar, 2 2006 @ 01:47 AM

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It wasn't meant to be a cheap publicity shot. He was on his way to India when anti-Bush protests erupted before he arrived. So he diverted Air Force One to Afghanistan instead, and waited there until it died down.

Anti-Bush protests hit India ahead of landmark visit

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Muslims and communists took to the streets across India on Wednesday, protesting against the visit of U.S. President George W. Bush, hours before his arrival.

Bush's three-day visit to the world's largest democracy, which is also Asia's third-largest economy, has raised expectations in India as it sheds its socialist baggage and turns to the West to help it become a regional power.

But it has also drawn the ire of leftist and Muslim groups who staged large protests in several cities across the country against Bush's policies.

About 100,000 Muslim men, many of them wearing prayer caps, gathered in a public ground in the heart of the Indian capital shouting anti-Bush slogans.

"Go back, Bush," "Bush is a killer," "Bully Bush, buzz off," "Bush, stop the ambush," they shouted as hundreds of policemen in riot gear kept watch.

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He just didn't want to face a mob of angry muslims.

Regenmacher

posted on Mar, 2 2006 @ 04:35 AM

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Smoke billows from burning vehicles after a bomb blast in Karachi, Pakistan March 2, 2006.

US diplomat, three others killed in Karachi blasts
An American diplomat was killed in deadly bomb blasts in the Pakistani port city of Karachi on Thursday, which also killed three other persons, including a Pakistani paramilitary soldier.

Bombing Won't Stop Visit to Pakistan Says Bush
"Terrorists and killers are not going to prevent me from going to Pakistan," said Mr. Bush.

•Bush ratings plummet to all-time low
•CBS & NBC Showcase Protests in India, Ignore Pro-U.S. & Pro-Bush Views of Indians

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Usually when your Presidential approval poll ratings look like a pile of dog feces, you go on foreign relations tour to boost them.

On a good note:

US, India clinch nuclear deal, call pact 'historic'

'History was made today,' India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a joint news conference. 'I was particularly pleased we have reached an understanding on the implementation of our agreement on civil nuclear cooperation of July 18, 2005.'

'We concluded today an historic agreement on nuclear power ... it is a necessary agreement, it will help both our peoples,' added Bush.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

Next batter up Pakistan and then it's off to the polls.

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