Breaking: Hillary Clinton Wheels Down Afghanistan

This was an unannounced stop on this trip, and the story just came across on MSNBC. She will meet with President Karzai, according to the report.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, smiles as U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker introduces her to staff at the U.S. Embassy Saturday, July 7, 2012 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Clinton arrived Saturday on an unannounced visit to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai ahead of the Tokyo conference on Afghanistan’s reconstruction. (AP Photo/Brendan Smialowski, Pool)

This explains the gap in the travel itinerary between today in Paris and Tokyo on the eighth. It was planned but unannounced. I thought it was odd that she had wrapped up her Parisian duties this afternoon and was not due in Tokyo until July 8. (Also odd - I just noticed the 48-star flag behind them.  Goes back to 1959 I guess - the year we admitted Alaska and Hawaii.  That was the last time the flag changed.)

Hillary Clinton’s Travel Itinerary July 5 – 17 2012

Here is a WaPo story.

Clinton arrives in Afghanistan for talks with Afghan President Karzai

By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, July 6, 9:56 PM

KABUL, Afghanistan — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has arrived in Kabul on an unannounced visit to Afghanistan.
Clinton will meet Saturday morning with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to discuss U.S.-Afghan civilian and defense ties. They will also speak about stalled Afghan reconciliation efforts.
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