First Lady Begins African Trip

ACCRA, Ghana — First lady Laura Bush said Sunday that the U.S. government is right to eavesdrop on Americans with suspected ties to terrorists and that President Bush worries that revelations about the domestic spying program will cripple efforts to foil terrorists.

"I think the American people expect the United States government and the president to do what they can to make sure there's not an attack by foreign terrorists," Mrs. Bush said just before landing here to begin a four-day stay in West Africa.

"I think he was worried that it would undermine our efforts by alerting terrorists to what our efforts are," she said.

Mrs. Bush planned to travel on Monday to Liberia to attend the inauguration of President-elect Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first woman president on the continent. She also is highlighting U.S.-backed education and HIV-AIDS programs in Ghana and Nigeria.

In a 12-minute exchange with reporters on the plane, Mrs. Bush rebuffed criticism that too much of U.S. assistance for battling AIDS in Africa is focused on abstinence programs. She said abstinence, the use of condoms and being faithful to one's sexual partner are all important in curbing the spread of disease.

"I really have always been a little bit irritated by criticism of abstinence because abstinence is absolutely, 100 percent effective in fighting a sexually transmittable disease," she said. "When girls are not empowered, girls are vulnerable, and their chances of being able to negotiate their sexual life with their partners and to make their partner chose a condom are very low."

Excerpt:
She said that in Africa, where one in three people have AIDS, a sexually transmitted disease, it's important to talk about abstinence.

"In many countries where girls feel obligated to comply with the wishes of men, girls need to know that abstinence is a choice. It's really very, very important to have all three," she said."

God Bless Laura!

"She said abstinence, the use of condoms and being faithful to one's sexual partner are all important in curbing the spread of disease.

This is a powerful message. It seperates the Republicans from Democrats and the Republicans from the Media!

I just heard First Lady Barbara Bush (I'm so proud of her) interviewed on the plane - they said the interview went 8 min but I heard 1 min of Laura Bush and then the blinkette, blonkette, reporterette or whatever 'ette' they go by - finish up with their opinion of what was said.

I want to hear First Lady Laura Bush give the media that message!!!

Then I challenge bill clinton, who is on a AIDS mission, to say the same!!!!! It will take more than money. But we all know and have read how bill clinton really feels about these missions - he was telling Tony Blair there is life after a leadership role. You can get rich!!!!! The money lines his pockets.

I read somewhere that a grat majority of Americans including Dems have a very 'favorable' view of Laura Bush.....so I think that's why the media doesn't show her or quote her very much.

People might connect her with her husband & that might help his 'favorables' and, as we know, the MSM cannot let that happen......so they ignore the (very popular & admired) First Lady while continuing to bash the President!

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