Bush visits Afghanistan, promises continued support

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-16-2008 09:09

US President George W. Bush has paid an unannounced visit to Afghanistan amid increasing attacks in the post-Taliban state.

His visit comes just 36 days before he's due to hand over to his successor, Barack Obama.

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) and Afghan President Hamid Karzai shake hands at the conclusion of their joint statement to reporters at the Presidential Palace in Afghanistan, December 15, 2008. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Bush expressed satisfaction over the progress made in Afghanistan to US soldiers and Marines stationed at Bagram Air Base.

George W. Bush, US President, said, "Afghanistan is a dramatically different country than it was eight years ago. The Taliban has gone from power, and it's not coming back. We want to lay the foundation of peace for generations to come. We want to do the hard work now. So our children and grandchildren can grow up in a peaceful world."

After meeting Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Bush said the US will stand by the war-torn country through the transition of power at the White House.

Karzai said his country doesn't want to depend on international handouts forever, but stressed that help will still be needed for some time.

Hamid Karzai, Afghan President, said, "The decision in Afghanistan is to continue our cooperation with the international community till we have defeated terrorism and extremism and the threat that emanates from them."

A day earlier, the US President made a surprise visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Bush got a size-10 reminder of his unpopularity when a reporter for an Iraqi-owned TV station hurled two shoes at him. Bush dodged both shoes and said he did not feel threatened by the incident.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei