Laura Bush visited an elementary school in Mali last week--

–two weeks prior to the event the school, which had no electricity and a dirt floor, was redone by USAID to make it ‘acceptable” for a photo op by installing electrical wiring, HVAC, and new furniture, removing items considered objectionable such as the drinking fountains they used, and covering parts of the dirt floor with gravel so that her majesty would not get soiled and uncomfortable.

The school superintendant was interviewed afterward and was left to clean up the donut boxes and debris that their wealthy white visitors had left. He called the renovation stunt “a bit ridiculous” and questioned its real purpose and value.

After Her Majesty’s visit, the furniture, electrical outlets, and HVAC were removed by USAID.