From the S&S archives: Bush hails troops 'a long way from home'

BELI DOGLE, Somalia — A handful of European-based troops got their last chance to see their current commander in chief Friday, but in an unlikely location — an abandoned air base in central Somalia.

President Bush, who leaves office Jan. 20, ate a New Year's Day lunch of MRE field rations with more than 100 soldiers and Marines in the shaded courtyard of the base's air traffic control building.

Bush told the troops that Americans almost unanimously support the Operation Restore Hope mission, and that the service members should take pride in helping rescue Somalian children from starvation.

"Thanks to you, they got a shot. They got a shot at really living," Bush said.

Earlier, Bush greeted the Germany-based flight crews of UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters. Crew members had waited in formation on a runway at the airfield, about 55 miles north of the Somalian capital, Mogadishu.

The two-hour visit was a small slice of a two-day presidential itinerary in Somalia. Bush then left for Moscow on Saturday morning to sign a nuclear arms limitation treaty with Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin.

Bush arrived in Beli Dogle by helicopter, then traveled the length of the airfield in a military motorcade to see the aircrews.

The president wore a cap and a desert fatigue shirt with a leather name patch, but had on plain beige pants. He also wore a small circular patch behind his left ear, a treatment to prevent motion sickness on the amphibious assault ship Tripoli, where he spent Thursday and Friday nights off the coast.

Even though the encounter took place in an austere location in a war-torn country, a few dozen news representatives were on hand, tracking the president's every step.

Bush wished the troops Happy New Year and commented, "A long way from home, you guys are." He posed repeatedly for pictures with servicemembers and made an effort to shake the hand of nearly everyone.

"You're really heavily armed there. Cameras at 30 paces," he told one aircrew member who passed several cameras forward so buddies could take his picture with Bush.

In the courtyard, the president ate "Menu No. 8: Ham slice with Accessory Packet A." He braved another long picture-taking gantlet and stayed late enough to meet with his lunch companions.

Bush also visited an orphanage in Baidoa, where more than 700 children clapped their hands and chanted, "Welcome, Bush," throughout the half-hour stay.

Bush gave his hand to some children, patted some on the head, hoisted one smiling child into the air and wrapped another in a bearhug.

Bush left Somalia on Saturday morning from the military-controlled airport at Mogadishu.