Brad & Angelina in Washington DC

ANGELINA JOLIE VISITS IRAQ AND IRAQI REFUGEES

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador witnesses humanitarian crisis

DAMASCUS, Tuesday 28 August (UNHCR) -

UUNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie has visited Iraq and Syria to see first-hand the plight of hundreds of thousands of families uprooted by the ongoing conflict in Iraq.

The UN refugee agency estimates more than 4. 2 million Iraqis have left their homes - 2 million to neighbouring states and another 2.2 million displaced inside Iraq.

Yesterday in Damascus, Jolie visited a UNHCR registration centre and spent hours talking to Iraqi refugees in their homes. Today, she crossed into Iraq to visit 1,200 refugees trapped in a makeshift camp at the border, unable to flee Iraq, and later watched scores of Iraqis crossing into Syria at a border checkpoint.

As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Jolie said she would leave politics to others while focusing on the region’s huge humanitarian needs.

“I have come to Syria and Iraq to help draw attention to this humanitarian crisis and to urge governments to increase their support for UNHCR and its partners,” Jolie said. “My sole purpose in both countries is to highlight the plight of those uprooted by the war in Iraq.”

After talking with some of the stranded refugees at Iraq’s Al Waleed camp on Tuesday, Jolie said: “it is absolutely essential that the ongoing debate about Iraq’s future includes plans for addressing the enormous humanitarian consequences these people face.”

While in Iraq, she separated from UNHCR to visit privately with U.S. troops and other Multi-National Forces based in the area.

Jolie arrived in Syria on Monday. In Damascus, she met some of the thousands of Iraqi refugees registering with UNHCR, nearly one-quarter of whom are victims of violence and torture. Tens of thousands are without jobs, and many young people are in danger of losing out on an education and a future. She recognized Syria for its open borders and generosity to Iraqis.

In late July, UNHCR and UNICEF launched a joint $129 million education appeal aimed at getting 155,000 young Iraqi refugees throughout the Middle East back into school. The United States announced Tuesday that it will contribute $30 million to the appeal.

The Post’s Pitt Stop

Stop the presses! Brad Pitt paid a sort-of-but-not-really surprise visit to The Post’s newsroom yesterday, and not since Denzel Washington’s newsroom tour in 1993 did so many heads turn and so much workplace productivity swirl down the drain.

Pitt, 43, is in town researching his upcoming role as an investigative reporter in “State of Play,” a Washington-based drama about hard-nosed journos trying to solve the murder of a young political staffer, according to production supervisor Kwame Parker.

Brad Pitt got some reporting tips — and a lot of stares — during a visit to The Post’s newsroom. (By Kevin Clark — The Washington Post)

In his signature gray tweed English racing hat, blue slacks — not jeans! — a tan blazer and a white button-down shirt sans tie, Pitt graciously offered a few waves and “heys” to in-house admirers while he spent four hours making the rounds with “State of Play” director Kevin Macdonald.

The visitors lunched across the street at Palette with Post Vice President at Large Ben Bradlee, Executive Editor Len Downie and political reporter Dan Balz. Then they took a tour of the newsroom and had meetings with Managing Editor Phil Bennett, Chairman Don Graham and Publisher Bo Jones. Finally, Pitt headed back downstairs for a chat with military affairs and Pentagon reporter Josh White and a catch-up session with investigative reporter James Grimaldi– also known around the office as Pitt’s Sigma Chi frat brother at the University of Missouri back in 1984.

“It was really a conversation about craft,” said Metropolitan Editor R.B. Brenner, who is consulting for the filmmakers and spent part of the afternoon talking shop with Pitt and Macdonald. For his part, White reports that Pitt was polite, engaged in the subject and asked good questions.

The rest of The Post’s scribes tried — but not too hard — to act nonchalant while gazing dreamily in the actor’s direction. “It was like angels singing,” one female employee was overheard saying after apparently making brief eye contact.

Pitt’s partner, actress Angelina Jolie, was nowhere to be found (which was probably just as well, because we have these things called “deadlines” here). Ever the do-gooder, Jolie met with Colin Powell at his Alexandria office, and then with his successor as secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice. Jolie’s rep says she reported on her recent trip to Iraq and Syria, and discussed Iraq’s 4 million refugees

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/21/AR2007092102088.html

Missouri Fan, never stop making videos. I love your latest one. Without you I wouldn’t have Brad and his hats. Your videos are so good. Sorry, but I can’t post on Youtube. They reject every name I post. Something is screwy with them. Peace

I know the meetings with Powell and Rice were privates, but it would be nice if one or two pics emerge…

Glad to hear that they are in DC doing their business as usual. Thanks you Jared fot all the pics & materials for Brad & Angelina.

LOve them.

That just shows how respected Angelina is for her humanitarian work. How many people meet with Colin Powell and Condi Rice?

BRAD AND ANGIE ARE ROCK SOLID! GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS THEM TO STAY TOGETHER FOREVER!!!!!!!

These two frauds bore me to tears. When will it end?

PLEASE stop reporting on them!

28 Purple Gem

Longest separation I think since they got together going on three years ago was 5-6 days (due to different time zones) when Angelina went to Vietnam to adopt Pax and Brad had to work in LA. She flew right back to LA and Brad and they have not been separated but once since then when he went to Montreal from Prague for 2 days to finish filming BB and she went to Iraq and Syria for 2 days from NYC. They are determined to be together. Even in the beginning of their relationship they were never apart more than 2-3 days at a time. When she was filming in NYC and he was filming in Canada in 2005, they were always flying back and forth to be together.

“She’s absolutely serious, absolutely informed,” says former secretary of State Colin Powell. “Her work with refugees is not something to decorate herself. She studies the issues.” Powell has spoken with Jolie several times over the years, and they’ve been honored together at benefits for refugee causes. There is, he says, no sanctimony about her. “For her, it’s not about saving the world, it’s about saving kids,” he says. “She doesn’t need this. This needed her.”

Newsweek

I like their schedule..

Thanks Jared!

guli, coal, Lady G, Jill, Andromeda, the real tita,

konnitiwa and dinah#1

Thank you ladies for the comments and ratings.

konnitiwa and dinah#1

that’s fine here too. I appreciate your comments and glad you all like it.

Good Night all!

How cool. They were in my city. My cousin actually works for the Post…mmm, wonder if she saw Pitt.