Kuwait Greets Bush With a ‘Love Storm’ : Persian Gulf: Throngs hail the visiting former President as savior of the emirate.

Thousands of Kuwaitis thronged the airport highway to give George Bush a hero’s welcome Wednesday, cheering the former American President revered as the oil-rich emirate’s savior.

As President, Bush was the prime mover in assembling the 32-nation Western and Arab military coalition that drove Iraqi forces from Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm two years ago.

Kuwait newspaper columnists dubbed the three days of festivities in his honor “Operation Love Storm.”

The party started as soon as a special blue and white Kuwaiti Airways jetliner landed, bringing Bush from Houston on his first visit to the emirate.

American flags and the green, white, red and black banner of Kuwait fluttered on strings, and sword dancers whirled to beating drums.

Hundreds of people cheered as Bush was escorted along a red carpet to meet his host, Kuwait’s emir, Sheik Jabbar al Ahmed al Sabah. Bush shook hands with the emir, then hugged and kissed two young flower girls who presented bouquets.

The crowds along the highway into the city were swelled by schoolchildren given a holiday to participate in the arrival ceremonies. Many youngsters waved small U.S. flags or balloons and others held signs. One read, “Welcome Boosh.” Another, in Day-Glow pink, said, “Kuwait’s savior is here.”

Bush was accompanied by his wife, Barbara, who told the Kuwaitis, “I am very happy to be in your country.”

Also on the trip were Bush’s son Neil and his wife, Sharon, and two other daughters-in-law. Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III and former White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu also made the trip.

Bush and his family are staying at the emir’s Bayan Palace, a heavily guarded royal enclave on the southern outskirts of Kuwait city.

Bush is scheduled to address Parliament and receive an honorary doctorate from Kuwait University today. On Friday, he is to see remnants of the Gulf War--oil lakes on the desert, a house destroyed by Iraqi soldiers--and visit U.S. troops in Kuwait under a 10-year defense pact.