Karen Hughes leaves a failure

October 31, 2007

Washington, DC - Longtime Bush adviser Karen Hughes is quitting her job pitching the U.S. image abroad.

Needless to day, she failed miserably.

Polls show the world views the U.S. less favorably since Hughes took over.

Hughes served as undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs since her appointment to the post in March 2005, and was charged with running the State Department's campaign to "win the hearts and minds of the Muslim world."

In September of that year, Hughes traveled throughout the Middle East as part of what she dubbed a "listening tour" to repair America's image among Muslims. But it was a tough sell, and many Arabs criticized her for what they called her lack of understanding of the region.

Hughes previously served for 18 months as the president's White House counselor, and has been one Bush's closest advisers since his days as Texas' governor.

However, she left Washington in the summer of 2002, saying she wanted to be with her family in Texas.

On Wednesday, Hughes said she is looking forward to "spending more time with her family" in the Lone Star State.