WASHINGTON – President Bush flew home to face his domestic battles last night after telling U.S. peacekeeping troops in Kosovo he hopes to “hasten the day” when they can come home, too.
“America appreciates your service and sacrifice,” said Bush, casually clad in an open-necked gray shirt as he walked through the chow line where a chocolate cake read: “Welcome President Bush – peace in Kosovo.”
“It’s always a proud moment for the commander in chief to see the troops who uphold the values of our country,” he said to the 2,000 flag-waving soldiers in the NATO-led peace force.
Today, back from his second European trip, Bush gets back to nitty-gritty domestic policy as he tries to lobby – or arm-twist – enough Republicans to back his preferred version of a patients’ bill of rights.
Bush’s six-day European jaunt was a whirl of bloody protests at the Genoa summit mixed with the gilded pomp and circumstance of state dinners and an audience with the pope, and ended on a down-to-earth note with a mess-hall chicken dinner with his troops.