Triumphant Bush redirects forces to Al Qaeda

On Thursday night, however, Bush set such concerns aside. He made just a glancing reference to those problems in his address to cheering sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln off California; the remaining questions in Iraq received just 140 words in an 1,800 word speech.

Instead, Bush demoted the war in Iraq, and the earlier war in Afghanistan, to mere ‘‘battles’’ in the larger war on terrorism — and he rested much of his address on the disputed premise that Saddam’s Iraq was allied with Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda. Bush’s address on was also designed to celebrate — and take some credit for — the one claim on which there can be no doubt: the military triumph of the troops who, as the President said: ‘‘Have shown the world the skill and might of the American armed forces.’’

For Bush — who also spent the night aboard the carrier — the whole day was devoted to linking his presidency to the aura of the US military. When the Viking S-3B carrying Bush made its tailhook landing on the aircraft carrier off California, Bush emerged from the cockpit in full olive flight suit and combat boots, his helmet tucked jauntily under his left arm.

The ship, often called the largest vehicle on the planet, is a symbol of might (the White House issued a fact sheet noting that its sailors had consumed 29,000 pounds of hamburger on their voyage). Its name, the Abraham Lincoln, symbolises emancipation and freedom. And its triumphant homecoming from the Iraq war provided Bush with the perfect opportunity to highlight the success by — literally — embedding himself with the troops for a night.

Making his way to the Lincoln aboard a jet that can carry up to 3,958 pounds of missiles, torpedoes, rockets and bombs, the victorious commander-in-chief recalled his days in the Guard with fondness. ‘‘I miss flying, I can tell you that,’’ he said, telling reporters he was at the controls for a third of his flight to the carrier from the coast, which at times through the day was visible from the Lincoln.

Later, wearing a life-vest with ‘‘Commander in Chief’’ on the back and a helmet, he moved along the deck, flashing a thumbs up and shaking hands with sailors. (LAT-WP)