Washington, Nov 28; Us President George W Bush was back in the united states today after braving the threat of missiles over Baghdad to join 600 troops for an emotional thanksgiving dinner in Iraq, in a trip arranged under strict secrecy. The US President landed in Waco, Texas, at around 1000 GMT (1530 IST). He was expected to drive by motorcade to his ranch in nearby Crawford. His arrival followed a lightning visit to Iraq aimed to boost troops' dwindling morale on a key US holiday. News of yesterday's visit was not even released until air force one had already left, for fear of the sort of missile fire that forced an emergency landing by a DHL civilian cargo jet last week. Troops of the 1st armoured division which patrols the area around the Iraqi capital leapt to their feet, threw their arms in the air and cheered when the surprise guest arrived at their US holiday feast yesterday.

"I was looking for a warm meal somewhere, thanks for inviting me to dinner," said the US Commander in Chief, wearing a Blue shirt and a Grey army bomber jacket and with his eyes moist, to deafening applause from the troops. "I can't think of a finer group of folks to be having thanksgiving dinner with," bush, with brightly coloured military standards behind him, told the soldiers from the 1st armoured and 82nd airborne divisions and the 2nd armored cavalry regiment in a huge hangar-like mess hall at Baghdad airport.

Bureau Report