Pickles gives the "all clear" signal for travel in Afghanistan

[Cocoa]

bring on the tourism, just stay out of the bad neighborhoods...

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-laura31.html

There were reminders of war at every turn of Mrs. Bush's visit. U.S. soldiers in camouflage fatigues manned M-60 machine guns at both ends of four transport helicopters that flew the first lady and her entourage to events around Kabul. Apache attack helicopters that shadowed the aircraft provided further protection.

''I knew we'd be safe,'' Mrs. Bush said aboard her plane shortly after it left to return to Washington. ''Afghanistan is safe. There are certainly parts of it that aren't right now. But, in general, I think it is a very safe place to travel.''

Still, Mrs. Bush kept her stay brief. She spent just six hours on the ground after flying nearly halfway around the world to get here.

more...

[12345]

1. can I have a Secret Service entourage, too?

[Ripley]

2. She might want to read this:

Crime wave sweeps across Afghanistan

Security fears mount as the line between cops and robbers blurs

Declan Walsh in Kabul
Thursday March 31, 2005
The Guardian

The robbers who cleaned out Qader Yusifi, a Kabul moneychanger, were swift and single-minded. Within minutes they burst into his home, locked his wife and children into a bathroom, and stole away with £6,000 - his entire working capital.

But they were no ordinary thieves, said Mr Qader, hunched over a gaslight after yet another power cut in his rundown, Soviet-built apartment block.

The masked robbers wore green military fatigues, brandished AK-47 guns and, according to neighbours, escaped in a Toyota Landcruiser with tinted windows - vehicle of choice for Afghan army commanders, former Mujahideen fighters and senior government officials.

"I am 100% sure they were military," he said. And there was little hope of police collaring the culprits. "The police are working with the thieves, I am sure."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1356724

[soup]

19. or this:

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died March 26 in Kabul, Afghanistan, when a mine detonated near their military vehicle. The soldiers were assigned to the Army National Guard’s 76th Infantry Brigade (Separate), Indianapolis, Ind.

Killed were:

Capt. Michael T. Fiscus, 36, of Milford, Ind.

Master Sgt. Michael T. Hiester, 33, of Bluffton, Ind.

Spc. Brett M. Hershey, 23, of State College, Penn.

Spc. Norman K. Snyder, 21, of Carlisle, Ind.
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050328-2305.html

---

What the hell alternate universe does she live (and travel) in?

[tanyev]

3. Splendid!

Can I book my flight there on expedia.com?

[AlCzervik]

4. ok someone's been romping through the poppy fields.

[FreedomAngel82]

5. Sounds like it

I wonder why she REALLY went eh?

[Cocoa]

9. lol

:-)

[beyurslf]

6. When I travel there will I be afforded the protection that she was...or am

I on my own in that department?

[rkc3]

18. Pickles on a transport chopper.

I'll put money she had a bag in her lap and a diaper on - it could not have been a pretty trip rumbling through the sky.

[Spazito]

7. This article is great!

It totally brings out how delusional she is, I love it.

[adwon]

8. In general?

Maybe should she try reading the papers published in army towns. She might just get a clue then.

[eternalburn]

10. Talk about getting yourself on a list......

Do ya think travel to Afghanistan for pleasure would raise any red flags with Homeland Security?

[gratuitous]

11. O-o-o-okay, next time I want to travel halfway around the world

And stay for six hours, I'll be sure to consider the lovely country of Afghanistan!

Hell, I can't even afford to gas up my car and Pickles is taking joyrides on our nickel to provide backdrops for her delusional spew.

[Johonny]

12. Can't wait to go

I mean she's such an authority on travel.

[Canuckistanian]

13. Just because she has a 20-mile bubble of security around her

Everything's safe? People are still be kidnapped, killed and wounded in Afghanistan every day.

Wow. She managed to stay safe for 6 hours in Kabul.

Let her try that in Kandahar.

[Berserker]

17. like they say

Ignorance is Bliss and to make a statement like that she is ignorant to the facts and lives in a fantasy world along with her husband.

[UTUSN]

14. GUCKERT Is Available for Afghan Sex Tours - Beards Shaved n/t

[Oreo]

15. I'm sure Osama would agree with Pickles

Couldn't be any safer!

How much did that trip cost anyway? She flew around the world for a 6 hour stay?

[htuttle]

16. She's delusional

The truth is here:

http://pz.rawa.org/rawa/index.html

...and it ain't pretty.

[charlie]

20. I guess we're getting a preview

of her solution to the gang problem. If they can't pierce her security retinue, they don't exist.

[madrchsod]

21. m60`s tend to make one safe

don`t like the way someone looks--cut them in half with a burst from a m60-ask questions later. she`s a twit

[Goathead]

22. Somebody had better check her diplomatic pouch

Sounds like Pickles might be trying to smuggle some of that grade A black tar heroin back into the States. From the sounds of that statement she must be "dipping into the stash". Come now Pickles, don't you know that your hubby needs that heroin to fund his next illegal war.