There were homeless people, mothers and children, living under trees on the side of a road. Bush amounted to little more than shantytowns. In Bamiyan, much of the housing seen by Mrs. grants of $40-million over five years to fund the university level education in Afghanistan and another to underwrite a program to combat illiteracy.ĭespite the limitations of a ten hour visit, it was evident that Afghanistan is in desperate need of help. Hamid Karzai will deliver personal appeals for more foreign aid for the war-ravaged country. The trip was a prelude to the International Donors Conference being held Thursday in Paris. Bush also went to cast a spotlight on Afghanistan's profound need for more international assistance. It was meant to showcase some of the progress being made in Afghanistan, especially for women and children. Her visit to Afghanistan had a dual-purpose. 'You know, I've kind of gotten used to flying on Marine One, but it's not everyday you get to ride in a helicopter staffed by the men and women of the 101st (Airborne) and that was really pretty terrific,' she said to cheers of pride from the troops. Bush kidded about it later while addressing American military personnel at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. There were no incidents, and each of her three helicopter flights were completed safely. The chopper crew also fired flares periodically as a counter-measure in case a heat-seeking ground-to-air missile was to be fired at the chopper. The choppers flew fast and at times the pilots employed combat flying techniques - accelerating and weaving right or left when over suspicious areas. The jackets were brand new, beige - and unexpectedly heavy - reflecting their ability to stop a bullet or piece of shrapnel from penetrating your body. Bush and the rest of us were required to don a flak jacket in case the aircraft came under fire. That included the 10 members of the press that were covering her visit. In the air, they scoured the countryside below ready to open fire on any threat to Mrs. In the doors on each side of the aircraft and on the tail ramp were soldiers manning 7.62mm machine guns. Army CH-47D Chinook - a twin rotor helicopter outfitted for combat. There was none of the airborne luxury of the so-called 'white tops' - the Sikorsky Sea Kings that usually serve as Marine One. To get to Bamiyan Province about a hundred miles due west of Kabul, the Afghan capital, Mrs. For some reason, the CAT members were reluctant to let me examine the weapon more closely. Usually they keep a low profile, but on this trip they were deliberately highly visible - dressed in black combat uniforms including helmets, flak jackets and carrying what looked like M16A4 rifles. But in Afghanistan, it was supplemented by members of CAT - the counter-assault team of the Secret Service. She always travels with a Secret Service contingent.

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