First lady urges Afghan women to get active

By Laurence McQuillan, USA TODAY

PRAGUE, Czech Republic — First lady Laura Bush urged Afghan women on Tuesday to improve their lives and those of their children by taking part in upcoming elections.

"You have a big opportunity, and a lot at stake," she said in a 13-minute speech broadcast by U.S.-run Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Discussing the changes brought about by the end of Taliban rule, Bush said, "Many people are dedicated to helping you build a lasting peace — and you yourselves must seize this opportunity." Her remarks were translated into Pashto and Dari, two common languages in Afghanistan.

She asked women to get involved in forming a new Afghan government. The country will be selecting delegates to a national council that meets June 10 to form a government. About 40 women are among about 4,700 delegates already selected.

"I want you to know that the isolation the Taliban regime forced on you is not normal — not by international standards, not by Islamic standards and not by Afghanistan's own standards," she said.

Bush's first diplomatic mission on her own ends today when she joins President Bush at the start of his trip to Germany, Russia, France and Italy.

Visiting France, Hungary and the Czech Republic, Bush spoke about the struggles facing Afghan women, who are about half of the 27 million population. Among their needs are good education for their children and health care for themselves.

GOP political strategists in Washington say they hope her message will help Republicans do better with female voters in the November congressional elections. Women tend to vote Democratic in congressional elections, but the strategists believe Bush's themes may help buck that trend.

Bush, by addressing the struggle facing Afghan women, is emphasizing an issue that has been highlighted by Democratic activists, including former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, now a Democratic senator from New York.

GOP pollster David Winston says Bush is a strong political asset for the Republican Party.

"She has reinforcing messages," he says. "She's being consistent whether she's inside the country or outside the country in terms of what is important. When you are addressing the issue of health care or education, there is an audience here at home, there's an audience in Europe and in Asia."