Education a Focus of One-Day Foray to Afghanistan

First lady Laura Bush and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings made a surprise, whirlwind visit to Afghanistan last week, spending most of their six hours on the ground promoting education for girls and greater rights for women.

Mrs. Bush, whose trip was kept a secret until she boarded her plane at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington on March 29, said she has wanted to go to Afghanistan for years and was inspired by American women’s interest in the plight of Afghan women.

“It is very hard to imagine the idea of denying girls an education, of never allowing girls to go to school and I’m sure men as well were struck with the horror of it, but I think particularly American women,” Mrs. Bush told reporters, according to a White...