The administration disclosed on Tuesday that the president insisted on landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln in a S-3B Viking jet even though the carrier was within easy helicopter range because he wanted to "share the pilots' experience".

The ship was returning from the Gulf region after the US-led war in Iraq.

"I'm glad I did it," said Bush.

"It was also a really good landing".

Democrats on the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee said costs could top US$1 million.

They included delaying the USS Lincoln that was steaming from the Gulf to San Diego, California, an extra day of air patrols, keeping the crew at sea, presidential security and flying Bush to the ship.

The Democrats issued a news release headed 'shameless' in large red type that cited the "nerve required to delay the return of 4 000 sailors to their families after 10 months at sea in order to stage (a) photo-op".

Bush, wearing a flight suit, made a jet landing and posed with crew members to mark the end of major combat in Iraq.

The landing was widely televised and received extensive media coverage throughout the day.

West Virginia Democratic Senator Robert Byrd on Tuesday denounced the event, saying: "I am loath to think of an aircraft carrier being used as an advertising backdrop for a presidential political slogan".

Bush said at a joint news conference with visiting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar that he was honoured to visit the Lincoln.

"I appreciated the chance to thank our troops. It was an unbelievably positive experience, and not only was I able to thank our troops but I was able to speak to the country and talk about not only their courage but the courage of a lot of other men and women who wear our country's uniform," Bush said. - Nampa-Reuters

World News Headlines Of The Last 48 Hours

•  Tsvangirai seeks region's help
•  Russia prepares to start Georgia pullout
•  Senegal newspaper raids deepen bitter media dispute
•  Musharraf quits presidency
•  Baby whale thinks yacht is its mother
•  Outback mayor seeks 'ugly duckling' women
•  New porn channel for Canada
•  Zimbabwe deal hinges on Mugabe 'conceding powers'
•  Zimbabwe: Comments from political analysts on the deadlock:
•  'CSI' gets its man!
•  Britney on MTV awards list for a 3rd time
•  Sudan's Bashir arrives in Turkey for summit
•  Russia leaves Georgia today
•  Musharraf gets two-day ultimatum
•  Zimbabweans' shacks set alight
•  Zimbabwe talks to continue after summit in S Africa
•  88 die in Afghan violence
•  Pope decries rise in racism
•  Ellen DeGeneres weds her long-time girlfriend
•  Rap arrest