Mrs. Bush's Remarks at the Afghan Children's Initiative Benefit Dinner with
Khaled Hosseini, Author of The Kite Runner
MRS. BUSH: Thank you very much, Ambassador. Thank you for your
very, very kind introduction; and thank you for hosting this lovely
evening tonight in your beautiful embassy. Mrs. Jawad, thank you very
much. And, Tim McBride, thank you both for your enthusiastic work as
the co-chairs of Ayenda -- the Afghan Children Initiative. You're doing
such important work on behalf of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council, as
well, for the children of Afghanistan. And I want to thank both of you
very much.
I also want to acknowledge Secretary Paula Dobriansky and the other
members of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council, who are with us this
evening. Thank you also for your great work.
And I am especially thrilled to finally meet the author of The Kite
Runner. (Applause.) Mr. Khaled Hosseini. President Bush and I both
really, really enjoyed your book. And we recommend it. I recommended
it today at a tea at the White House to some women who asked me what I
was reading.
And, distinguished guests -- each and every one of you, the other
ambassadors that are here -- thank you so much for coming; the Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs, General Pete Pace. I don't see Secretary Rumsfeld,
but if he's -- there he is, in the very back. Thank you so much for
joining us today, Secretary Rumsfeld. I know that Edi Gutierrez,
Secretary Gutierrez's wife, as well. So I want to thank you very much
for coming.
Distinguished guests, thanks to all of you for joining us tonight,
and thank you for supporting Ayenda.
I've met thousands of children around the world. Today I was in
Newark, New Jersey visiting a school, once again saw American children
in their own schools. But all of these little children represent the
love of a mother, the pride of a family, and the hope of a country.
The children of Afghanistan hold a special place in my heart. They
are mirrors of their society. Only a few years ago, the photographs of
their little faces reflected the sorrows of isolation and fear. But
today, children smile. They play outside. They study math and science.
They kick soccer balls and sing. And they even fly kites. Afghan
children are vigorous, inquisitive, and full of promise.
I've visited Afghanistan twice, and both experiences were deeply
moving. I saw for myself the dramatic transformation that's underway. I
witnessed earnest, heartfelt exchanges between Americans and Afghans --
people who learned a great deal about each other and realize how much
we're alike.
My last visit to Afghanistan was earlier this month, when President Bush
and I dedicated the new U.S. Embassy building. That new building is a
symbol of our long-term commitment to the people of Afghanistan and of
the strong relationship between Americans and Afghans.
Years of war have had a staggering impact on the country and the
people. They need very basic services, infrastructure, and help, and
education. But everywhere you can see the results of the support from
the United States and all of our allies, and many Afghan Americans who
have returned home: Schools are being built; young Afghan women are
studying to teach reading, or they're learning to read themselves; and
villages are letting their children be outside to learn and to play.
President and Dr. Karzai told me recently that about 6 million
children will start school, just as our ambassador said, this school
term. And a lot of that number are girls. To accommodate the enormous
need for education, schools have three schedules: The young children go
in the morning; the older children go in the afternoon, and their
parents go to school at night. The people are hungry to learn. And
education will give them a chance to succeed -- and contribute to a
peaceful and free country.
Afghanistan's future depends on literate, educated, and healthy
children. This terrific initiative that we're all here to support
tonight will make a difference. Through this program, we can all have a
direct impact on Afghan children and their families. Each of us can
give them the opportunities to do things that were once thought
impossible dreams.
I'm grateful for all of your work together, and I'm grateful that
we've been able to work together to help the children of Afghanistan
realize peace and success in their lives. Thank you, all very, very
much. And God bless each of us.