Just POlitics

Laura Bush in Afghanistan

U.S. first lady Laura Bush visited Kabul University and promoted educational opportunities for women in Afghanistan.

"Democracy is more than just elections. The survival of a free society ultimately depends on the participation of all of its citizens, both men and women," Mrs. Bush, a former schoolteacher and librarian, said.

Mrs. Bush dined with troops before visiting the University.

"Thanks to you, millions of little girls are going to school in this country, little girls who were denied an education just three years ago," Bush told troops at Bagram before she left.

Annan inadequate

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan was judged to have acted inadequately in the handling of his son, Kojo’s, part with Cotecna and the handling of Oil-for-Food contracts and contacts.

Kofi declared himself innocent of crimes. The Volcker report stated that it could not find any influence peddling in Cotecna receiving the contract to handle the Oil-for-Food contract by Annan.

U.S. Senator Norm Coleman -- who has been investigating the fact that the U.N. actions enabled Saddam Hussein to illegally obtain $ billions and continue to commit crimes against humanity – commented, "His lack of leadership, combined with conflicts of interest and a lack of responsibility and accountability point to one, and only one, outcome: his resignation."

Other nations such as China, who benefited from the corrupt Oil-for-Food program, were quick to say that Annan had been vindicated from any wrongdoing.

"I strongly hope that it is high time that we put an end to this episode surrounding the secretary-general," said China's U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya.

The Bush administration offered a cautious note, "This is a very serious matter," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. "Congress has been looking into it as well. We continue to support the United Nations. We continue to support Secretary-General Annan in his work at the United Nations."

Wolfwitz gets E.U. Okay

Paul Wolfwitz went to Brussels and met with the executive European Commission and received their blessing to head the World Bank.

"I understand that I'm to put it mildly a controversial figure," Wolfwitz said. "But as people get to know me better, they will understand that I really do believe deeply in the mission of the bank."