White House Enters the Blogosphere on Middle East Trip

ABC News’ Jennifer Duck Reports:  It seems everyone has his or her own blog these days, and now the White House will join in on the action.

On President Bush’s eight-day trip to the Middle East region, senior staff will post entries about the trip on the aptly named blog, "Trip Notes from the Middle East."

"As we leave for the Middle East trip today, we will begin posting periodic updates from the senior staff that’s traveling with the President on a website — on our website, whitehouse.gov," White House Press Secretary Dana Perino told reporters Tuesday.

Senior Staffers on the trip including Perino, Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, speech writer Bill McGurn, and Counselor to the President Ed Gillespie will most likely contribute to the blog. 

A majority of the countries and territories on the trip’s itinerary are firsts for President Bush and his staff.  Announced stops include Israel, the West Bank, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. 

President Bush promoted peace efforts in Egypt in 2003, but has never been to the other Middle East region countries as president.  However Bush visited Israel for the first time when he was Governor of Texas. 

Bush is pushing for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement before the end of his presidency.