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Bush makes surprise visit to Afghanistan
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-01 16:51
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 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.
US President
George W. Bush greets U.S. Marines from the 7th Marine Division on their
way to Kuwait during Bush's refueling stop in Shannon, Ireland, Wednesday,
March 1, 2006. [AP] |
The White House wanted to conceal Bush's presence to reduce the risk of any
attempt on his life. But word of his visit leaked shortly before he landed.
From Bagram, Bush was to go to the presidential place in Kabul for a meeting
Hamid Karzai, the US-backed leader.
The president also was to preside over a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the US
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 US troops in Iraq.
Speaking of secrecy concerns, White House press secretary Scott 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."
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