MONROVIA, LIBERIA — We are jetting home in under an hour now, so I have only time to post here the pool reports I wrote today for the press corps. You'll notice at the bottom of the second report that I mention running through a window.

President Bush was at a lunch outside at the executive mansion, and I was sitting inside when a White House aide told me that there was a song being performed. I wanted to see it, but they told me it was already half over. So I started to trot out to see it when I ran into — and through — a large plate of glass. In my defense, I was told later that three other folks had run into this before me, but none of them had broken it.

Here are the pictures.

I was very fortunate not to be seriously hurt. I suffered only a few small cuts on my wrist and hands. Thanks to the White House doctors for their help.

I'm not the only journalist to run into a little trouble. Debbie Charles of Reuters broke her hand on this trip as well. You'll see some info below about her getting her cast signed by Mr. Bush and other leaders.

And here are the pool reports.

POOL REPORT #2

AF1 TO LIBERIA thru REMARKS

Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008

Motorcade rolled from the hotel in Accra at 7:20 a.m. and AF1 was wheels up at 7:48 a.m.

Dana came back to the cabin in flight and said that POTUS had been briefed on the missile shootdown. She also said POTUS might do an interview on the flight home depending on how he felt. She said he was "in a really good mood this morning."

Dana also said POTUS "feels really close" to Liberian President Sirleaf.

Dana gave us some info on the POTUS remarks, which will be old news by the time this pool report is filed: money for 1 million textbooks and desks and chairs, Liberian made, for 10,000 students. Dana said there was some debate over whether to say that the U.S. was providing a textbook for every child (students are about one third of the population of roughly three million) but they decided against it. Dana also said that the school year starts in the fall — that's important because the books and furniture will be delivered by then.

She also said that since 2003 the U.S. has spent $139 million to rebuild Liberia's armed forces, and $200 million for the UNAMIL peace-keeping force. The U.S. will in fiscal 2008 spend $13 million for malaria prevention and treatment, including 480,000 bednets.

Dana also talked about POTUS’s conversation with Musharraf, on AF1 on Tuesday en route to Accra from Rwanda. Dana said the "process is still under way" to determine the makeup of the new government in Pakistan, and that Sec. Rice is talking regularly to the U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson (check spelling). Said Musharraf has done all they asked him to, and "we're still awaiting the outcome of the discussions that the parties are having."

Should Musharraf stay as president? "That's up to the Pakistani people.” But U.S. has said that Musharraf is someone “who could help Pakistan continue on the way to democracy."

Said the U.S. has partnered with Musharraf and that "we hope that whatever the makeup is of the next government of Pakistan that they will continue that partnership."

AF1 landed at 9:17. POTUS shook hands with a few dignitaries, including the U.S. ambassador, and then we were off to the choppers, Army Chinooks, specifically CH-47s. The crewman in the back told us to strap in and hold on to the rigging because he was going to open the back of the chopper when we took off. And indeed he did, going and sitting on the ledge of the ramp for the first two or three minutes after we took off, and then getting up and closing it.

We took off at around 9:25 and flew over lots of jungle, and then after 7 or 8 minutes saw houses. We landed around 9:45 and POTUS landed five or six minutes later. He and FLOTUS got off in front of an honor guard and reviewing stand, but received a floral arrangement from a small girl and shook hands with President Sirleaf before going past the honor guard. As the girl handed the flowers to FLOTUS, POTUS smiled at Sirleaf, standing to his left, brought his right hand up and brought it down enthusiastically in Sirleaf's left hand, and said a few words to her.

The Liberian band to POTUS's right played "Hail to the Chief," and then they went past honor guard and to the reviewing stand. The band played the U.S. and Liberian national anthems, and then the two presidents’ walked on a red carpet past a formation of camo-clad Liberian soldiers.

The motorcade rolled at 10:10 and during the 10-minute ride there were thousands, maybe, probably even tens of thousands, along the side of the route. Many watched, some waved, some danced, many held small American flags, a few held large U.S. flags. A few groups of school children or high school students yelled and screamed. I also saw 3 or 4 Amish or Quaker folks. An embassy person said they were probably missionaries.

At 10:21 we unloaded into the heat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and after signing a guest book, POTUS came over with Sirleaf to the press. I didn't see the mayor present the key to Monrovia, but apparently that happened just before.

Sirleaf talked about how it was "a great honor" to have POTUS in Liberia, and said he and FLOTUS had received "a very warm welcome."

POTUS also remarked on the welcome from the Liberians. "I loved all the smiles and the enthusiasm along the route," he said. He told Sirleaf, "We want to help you recover from a terrible period" and said he wants Liberians to live "lives of hope and peace."

"And under your leadership that's exactly what’s happening," he said.

We held for a few minutes after that, and then went up six flights of stairs to wait outside the bilat room. Sirleaf's offices are in this building since July 2006 because there was an electrical fire back then, connected with her inauguration. I wasn't clear whether it was the day of or three months after during a celebration of independence. But either way, the fire wrecked the executive mansion and Sirleaf has not made rebuilding it a priority, according to an advance stafffer, because she wants money to go to the people. Obviously all this should be verified, but that's what we were told.

At 10:50 or so we went into the bilat for a brief grip and grin. We were heading out when POTUS asked Debbie Charles of Reuters, "How's the wrist?" He asked Debbie if she wanted Sirleaf to sign the cast and Debbie, very smartly, said yes. She walked over to Sirleaf, who was sitting to POTUS' left, and Sirleaf signed the wrapping, adding her name to POTUS and Ghanian president John Kufour's, who both signed yesterday. On the way out, POTUS said, "When you put it on eBay, I won't expect a commission," and smiled.

POOL REPORT #3

At 11:51 a.m. we pulled up at the executive mansion, an absolutely massive structure. By the way, I forgot to mention that there is a very noticeable U.N. presence on the streets, both soldiers and vehicles.

Around noon we came into a fairly large ballroom of sorts with a red carpet down the middle, and a row of chairs at the other end. About 50 to 75 people were seated on both sides, facing the carpet.

POTUS and Sirleaf came in through a red velvet curtain and were seated. The minister of protocol spoke, and then a traditional tribal chief, wearing a white silk gown and hat, came up with four or five others, mostly women.

The tribal leader, whose name is Chief Zanzan Karwor, chairman of the traditional council of chiefs, then spoke into a microphone for several minutes, gradually building himself into a fervor. During his remarks, which were in English as far as I could tell, I understood two phrases. I'm not sure POTUS understood much more.

Karwor said the word "free!" and people clapped. So I guess that's not even a phrase. And he also said "America and Liberia together" and people clapped. Bush smiled at one point because he knew we knew he didn't know what the guy was saying, and a guy in the balcony above us was blowing on a loud but kind of weak-sounding horn every time there was an applause line.

Then the minister of foreign affairs spoke and prayed, mentioning during the prayer that POTUS was receiving "Liberia's highest order of distinction." They then said the Lord's prayer.

The Liberian minister of protocol then stood and talked for several more minutes about POTUS, reciting his career going all the way back to, you guessed it, childhood, mentioning his interests in baseball, nature, and other things. He also said that POTUS has "played a pivotal role in bringing peace and stability to Liberia."

At this point I saw one audience member sleeping, and maybe another. The one that was definitely sleeping was woken by the horn blowing, and clapped twice very slowly after an applause line.

Sirleaf and another official then placed a green sash over POTUS's head, and then a large gold necklace with a medallion. FLOTUS also got a green sash, and Rice got a red sash with a blue stripe.

The Minister of Information, Lawrence Bropleh, who is also a minister, gave a closing prayer, praying to "the God of our weary years, the God of our silent tears," and giving thanks for POTUS' "transformative leadership."

POTUS, he said, "understands that Liberia has…risen from a valley of despair to a buoyancy of new hope."

At 12:38 we were out to the lawn out back, facing the sea. We walked by a group of dancers in body paint and tribal dress. POTUS was down the massive steps at 12:48 and it was a long walk to a head table for lunch under an awning, with most of the guests seated at tables under thatched roofs propped up on tree branches.

Sirleaf and POTUS gave toasts, you should have transcripts, and now we're holding.

In case transcript of toasts hasn't come yet, here's the highlights:

Sirleaf: "Join me in drinking lustily to…the great friendship that Liberia enjoys with our number one partner."

POTUS: "It is easy to destroy a country. It is hard to rebuild one."

And I just ran through a window.

— Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times