Bush Salutes The Troops

One year after sending troops to Iraq, President Bush thanked thousands of soldiers who have returned home and vowed to stay on the offensive in the war against terror.

"Welcome home! Thank you for a job well done," exclaimed the president, wearing a military-style jacket as he spoke Thursday at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Troops in camouflage uniforms responded with roars of "hoo-ah."

Mr. Bush addressed 20,000 troops from the 101st Airborne Division, nearly all of them just back from nearly a year in Iraq. He said the ouster of Saddam Hussein's regime was worth the sacrifice, reports CBS News Correspondent Mark Knoller.

"Because of your service, because of your bravery, because of your dedication, the world is better off and the American people are more secure," Mr. Bush said.

He also used his speech to take a veiled swipe at his Democratic rival, Sen. John Kerry, by offering thanks to members of Congress who voted for the $87 billion bill to fund military operations in Iraq – a bill Kerry voted against.

Mr. Bush's remarks came against the backdrop of heightened violence in Iraq, which has seen a new wave of deadly attacks on the eve of the war's first anniversary.

After the pep talk for the troops, Mr. Bush meting privately with survivors of some who never made it home.

The president gave the speech in the same outdoor field where he addressed troops in November 2001, shortly after the terrorist attacks against New York and Washington; so Thursday's outing brought him full-circle.

Mr. Bush told the soldiers they were serving "at a crucial hour in the history of freedom."

"In the first war of the 21st century, you're defending your fellow citizens against ruthless enemies. And by your sacrifice, you're making our country more secure.

"You have delivered justice to many terrorists, and you're keeping the rest of them on the run," he said.

Interviews with troops here suggested that Mr. Bush retains the strong support of the rank and file in the military, although many have lost comrades in Iraq. Fort Campbell has the third-largest military population in the Army. It also has lost the most soldiers in the Iraq campaign: Of the 564 U.S. service members who have died in Iraq, 65 have been from Fort Campbell. Hundreds have been injured.

"It's about time we got somebody in a key position to do what we need to do" in leading the military, said Sgt. Jerry Tucker, who served in Iraq.

But Staff Sgt. Jon Meyer said he wanted to hear Mr. Bush say he would send more troops to Iraq to bolster the current force. Soldiers in Iraq felt short-handed "any time you went into a village or city," Meyer said.

Many soldiers here are still grieving for fallen friends.

"When my buddy died, it was the saddest day of my life," said Spc. Brian Belue. "But I know he died for a great cause and I know he was proud to give his life for his country."

The trip was part of the president's campaign to persuade Americans to give him another four years as commander in chief, at a time when military leadership occupies center stage in the presidential campaign.

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry accuses Mr. Bush of leaving American troops vulnerable in Iraq, while the president and Vice President Dick Cheney argue that Kerry lacks the judgment to lead the armed forces.

Mr. Bush's chief Republican rival in 2000, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Thursday he does not believe Kerry is weak on defense even though they disagree on some issues.

"No, I do not believe that he is, quote, weak on defense. He's responsible for his voting record, as we are all responsible for our records, and he'll have to explain it," McCain said on NBC's "Today." "But, no, I do not believe that he is necessarily weak on defense. I don't agree with him on some issues, clearly. But I decry this negativism that's going on on both sides. The American people don't need it."