WASHINGTON (AFP) — US First Lady Laura Bush, taking on a higher profile on behalf of her husband's diplomacy, leaves for the Middle East Saturday to promote research on breast cancer and to try to restore the US image in a crucial region.
She has stops scheduled for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday and Monday, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and Wednesday, Kuwait on Thursday and Jordan on Friday.
"While in the region she will also visit several cancer treatment and screening centers and launch new cancer awareness activities," said her spokeswoman Sally McDonough.
"She will observe first-hand the US-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research and discuss ways to expand its role," she said.
Laura Bush has "a personal history with breast cancer," said Anita McBride, her chief of staff. "Both her mother and her grandmother had breast cancer," McBride told reporters on Friday, saying Bush began volunteering for breast cancer charities 25 years ago in Texas.
Breast cancer remains the leading cause of death among women in the United States and in the Middle East. It is often detected at a late stage, which is why prevention efforts are being encouraged, McBride said.
The UAE and Jordan were the first countries in the region to join the US partnership, and Saudi Arabia is due to formally join the effort during Bush's trip.
She is scheduled to meet the widow of Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late UAE president, and Saudi monarch King Abdullah as well as Jordan's King Abdullah II.
The First Lady's aides said there was no link between her visit next week and a planned Middle East peace conference this year organized by her husband's administration. But McBride added: "Certainly the timing is probably very good."
The White House said last month that the First Lady would visit the Middle East to bolster American "public diplomacy," meet international leaders and promote the US-Mideast partnership on breast cancer.
The United States' image in the region has suffered badly in recent years due to the US-led invasion of Iraq, the conduct of the US "war on terror," Washington's support for Israel and the troubled peace process for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
While previously circumspect on international issues, the former teacher and librarian has traded in her subdued reputation and become increasingly engaged in the diplomatic arena.
In recent weeks Bush has distinguished herself as one of the fiercest critics of Myanmar's military junta, calling on the regime to step aside.
The first lady admitted in an interview with USA Today that when her husband took office she thought her focus would "be totally domestic," but has since realized she has leverage to bring awareness to matters in other countries.
"My influence is really in being able to shine a spotlight on human rights situations that I want the American people to look at, and I want the people in those countries to know that the American people are with them," she told the newspaper.
The new role for the 60-year-old mother of twins is a clear change from her previous efforts that had been confined to encouraging young Americans to read books, stay away from drugs and avoid early sexual activity.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the First Lady's interest in the plight of Myanmar is nothing new -- she organized a round table on the issue last year during a UN General Assembly session in New York.
"Hearing her voice, I think it inspires people to think about what's happening in Burma and to join us in taking some action," Perino said, referring to Myanmar by its former name.
She has also spoken on behalf of women in Afghanistan and on fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa, Perino said.
"The president, of course, sees Mrs. Bush as a tremendous asset and a very good spokesperson on some of these issues," she added.
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