The Washington Times reports that so few reporters showed up for yesterday's Q&A with President Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai that the White House resorted to interns as seat-fillers.

Since the President typically only only takes four questions at the press avails--two from wires and two from foreign press--most domestic reporters don't bother showing up. They can, after all, read the transcript later. As one reporter told the WT, there's no need for them to be "props"--hence the White House resorted to real props to make the image good for the cameras: "So you had all these fresh young faces -- pretty blonde girls, and guys who haven't shaved -- nodding their approval as the president speaks."

Indeed, a quick gander at the White House photo of the avail shows some, um, new additions to the White House press corps...