A Day in the Life of President Bush (and Laura, overseas; photos): 1.18.06

At the White House, the president met with current and former Iraqi citizens, victims of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Laura Bush continues her African visit (with her daughter, Barbara). She criticized Senator Clinton for suggesting that the Republican-controlled House is run like a plantation where dissenting voices are ignored. "It's a ridiculous comment," Mrs. Bush told reporters when asked about the remark. She headed home after reaffirming the U.S. commitment to help Nigeria treat AIDS patients and stem the spread of HIV. She said she hoped that "one day an entire generation" will be free of the disease that has ravaged Africa. Earlier, Mrs. Bush drove to the dusty outskirts of Abuja to visit a small AIDS clinic where a young woman told her of how drugs helped her escape death from the disease. Mrs. Bush visited a hospital, where there were enough anti-retroviral drugs to treat 500 people over the next year. It is the first U.S.- backed shipment of the drugs St. Mary's has received through President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Americans Must Understand U.S. is at War: "The American people must remind themselves every day that the United States is at war, Army Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, speaking at the American Enterprise Institute here, said today."

IT'S ALL (PRESIDENT) BUSH'S FAULT . . .

US STRIKE KILLED AL QAEDA BOMB MAKER

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - ABC News reported on Wednesday that al Qaeda's master bomb maker and chemical weapons expert was one of the men killed in last week's U.S. missile attack in Pakistan.

The network did not say in the report on its Web site why it believed he had been killed but it reported that Midhat Mursi, 52, also known as Abu Khabab al-Masri, was identified by Pakistani authorities as one of three known al Qaeda leaders present at a conference in the village of Damadola.

"Pakistani authorities tell ABC News they have confirmation that Mursi was among those on the guest list for the late-night meeting. The authorities say al Qaeda's No. 2 man, Ayman al-Zawahri, was also expected to attend but apparently changed his mind," the network said.

U.S. counterterrorism officials could not confirm the report but said Mursi led training in explosives and poisons at al Qaeda's Derunta camp in Afghanistan.

"If this person is gone, it is significant. His loss, and the loss of people like him, would certainly be a blow to al Qaeda in the region," said one official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the information.

You can read the rest of the article at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060118/ts_nm/pakistan_usa_qaeda_dc;_ylt=AqrLmQHjUpsbWKSfcPWttKwEtbAF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

BUSH ADVISER SEES 3.3-3.4 pct GDP GROWTH IN 2006
By Tabassum Zakaria and Kristin Roberts
Wed Jan 18, 3:38 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy should grow at a slower but strong pace in 2006, by 3.3 percent to 3.4 percent, while unemployment continues to decline, White House economic adviser Al Hubbard said on Wednesday.

Hubbard, in an interview with Reuters, called the expected slowing from an estimated 3.5 percent growth in 2005 normal at this point in the economic cycle.

"We will continue to be increasing more jobs and new job entrants so that the unemployment rate will continue to drift down and we think that the economy is very much on a sustainable growth path and there is nothing that I think is going to knock it off that growth path for 2006," Hubbard said.

"We think that '06 will be a strong year," he added.

You can read the rest of the article at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060118/bs_nm/economy_hubbard_interview_dc;_ylt=AqkWCs18j5O39exPJIzO.eGyBhIF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

MUST SEE VIDEO:

President Bush Meets With Saddam Victims (less than 1 minute) -- scroll down to the 18th video option:
http://news.yahoo.com/video;_ylt=Aq3RK2zxF1mfzB0VCvLnlaWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2MnU4czRtBHNlYwNzbg--

HEADS UP:

PRESIDENT TO VISIT MANHATTAN (KANSAS)
Speech Follows Father's Footsteps
By Melissa Brunner

President George W. Bush is coming to Kansas.

The White House confirmed he'll be in Manhattan Monday to deliver a Landon Lecture at Bramlage Coliseum. His topic will be the global war on terrorism.

Bush was last in Kansas in May 2004 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Brown versus Board U.S. Supreme Court decision. Monday's speech will be the latest in a string of appearances to discuss his administration's continued focus on terrorism around the world.

White House spokesman Allen Abney says the President enjoys any opportunity to get out of Washington and personally meet with the American people. Abney says the war on terror is something that affects everyone, so Bush looks forward to coming to Kansas and talking about it here.

In giving the 142nd Landon Lecture, the President follows in the footsteps of his father. September 9, 1985, George H.W. Bush delivered the 70th Landon Lecture, when he was vice president. His message then was not unlike the one his son has now. The elder Bush spoke of the dream that one day we'd live in a world at peace. He was referring to the U.S. relationship with the Soviet Union. The current President will be talking about places like Iraq.

Some people who know about that firsthand will be in the audience. A contingent from Fort Riley is among the invited guests.

The speech is set for 11 am Monday. It will not be open to the public, but a limited number of tickets will be available for K-State students, faculty and staff only. Those will be issued first-come, first-served from noon to 6 pm Thursday at the football stadium ticket windows. A K-State ID will be required. Each individual must pick up a ticket in person. Students should go to the east ticket windows; faculty and staff to the west side.

You'll be able to hear the lecture live at www.k-state.edu/landon

http://www.wibw.com/news/headlines/2219227.html

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