English questions, please help?

Question

Hi, I have some English questions.
1. Laura Bush came to Afghanistan in March 2005(for six hours) "to offer support for Afghan women in their struggle for greater rights," as the New York Times reported, and "to promise long-term commitment from the US to education for women and children." The Times reported that the trip was "more than a year in the planning," WHICH MAY SEEM EXCESSIVE FOR A MILITARIZED P.R. JUNKET THAT TOUCHED DOWN IN KABUL scarcely long enough to terrify the populace, but the president's wife brought promises of help that made headlines in America.
2. In the long, LOCKED-DOWN evenings I start to write this book.
What is a militarized P.R.junket? And what does locked-down mean?
Please explain to me. Thanks a lot!!!

Answer 1

a Militarized PR Junket is a little vacation, escorted by the military, with Public Relations officials all over it.

Locked-Down means curfew, can't go out.

Answer 2

p.r. is abbreviated form of public realtion
merriam webster dictionary defines junket as...

2 a : a festive social affair b : TRIP, JOURNEY: as (1) : a trip made by an official at public expense (2) : a promotional trip made at another's expense
seems to me, that she was there to make afghani women feel better about what we're doing over there

Answer 3

Locked down - Closed to the public

You might consider your source of English "baised." Media often spins opinion into their interpretation and retelling of a situation.

Ma salaama.

Phil Jones

Answer 4

You're not having an English problem, you're having a politics/military doublespeak problem. I speak fluent English, and I don't have a freaking clue what she meant either.