President Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Afghanistan
President George W. Bush made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on December 14-15, possibly the last of his two-term presidency. Greeted by 1,000 U.S. troops at Bagram Air Field outside Kabul, President Bush reiterated his views that the war in Afghanistan had produced important achievements and that "hopeful gains" were being made daily.
"Thanks to you, girls are back in school across Afghanistan. Does that matter? I think it does. I think it does," he said to the troops. "Thanks to you, boys are playing soccer again, and flying kites, and learning to be Boy Scouts. Thanks to you, access to health care is up dramatically. Thanks to you, Afghanistan's economy has more than doubled in size. And thanks to you, the Afghan people are preparing to go to the polls next year for another round of free elections. Thanks to you, Afghanistan has a democratic government that is no longer an enemy of America; it is a friend of America."
President Bush then met with President Hamid Karzai in the Presidential Palace in Kabul, where President Karzai expressed his gratitude for the U.S.'s commitment to Afghanistan. President Karzai also spoke proudly of the broad international engagement in Afghanistan. "We are grateful to all other countries, as partners for building Afghanistan for fighting terrorists who are the enemies of all of us," he said. President Karzai also presented President Bush with the Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan Insignia for his efforts in rebuilding the country.
President Karzai and President Bush have worked closely together over the last seven years to secure and re-build Afghanistan. President Bush first visited Afghanistan in March 2006, and First Lady Laura Bush has travelled to Afghanistan three times, most recently in June 2008. President Karzai first visited President Bush in his official capacity of President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in May 2005, and most recently came to Washington in September 2008.
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President Bush Participates in Press Availability with President Karzai
