Religion a reminder of freedom, Bush says

CRAWFORD, Texas -- President Bush said Saturday that with the country emerging from war, the weekend's religious observances remind him of "the value of freedom and the power of a love stronger than death."

"This year, Easter and Passover have special meaning for the families of our men and women in uniform who feel so intensely the absence of their loved ones during these days," Bush said on his weekly radio address.

Fighting in Iraq has all but wound down, and the military's attention has turned mostly to restoring order and rebuilding Iraq. But 250,000 Americans in uniform remain deployed in the Persian Gulf, and the loved ones of 128 American service members the Pentagon says have been killed in the conflict are grieving loss.

The president speaks often of his search for God's guidance in his decisions, including to wage war in Iraq, and the power of prayer. On Saturday, he offered the nation's prayers to the soldiers' families.

"America mourns those who have been called home, and we pray that their families will find God's comfort and God's grace," Bush said.

"His purposes are not always clear to us, yet this season brings a promise: that good can come out of evil, that hope can arise from despair, and that all our grief will someday turn to joy, a joy that can never be taken away."

Bush is taking a five-day Easter vacation at his 1,600-acre ranch outside this central Texas town. His parents, former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, joined the president and first lady Laura Bush at the ranch for their usual joint Easter celebration.

Today, Bush and perhaps some family members plan to take a helicopter to Fort Hood, an Army base about 50 miles south of the ranch, for Easter services. Around half the 42,000 personnel based at Fort Hood are in Iraq.

Syria tightens visa restrictions on Iraqis

DAMASCUS, Syria -- Syria has banned Iraqis without visas from entering the country, airline sources confirmed Saturday, an apparent effort to counter U.S. charges that it is sheltering former members of Saddam Hussein's regime.

The move was another sign Syria seeks to ease tensions with Washington ahead of an expected visit by Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Syria quietly issued a directive last Monday banning the entry of any Iraqi who did not hold a visa. The rules became apparent Friday after two Iraqis were prevented in Cairo from boarding a Syrian Airlines flight to Damascus because they did not have visas. Syrian airport officials confirmed the rule change Saturday.

U.S. tanks outfitted with mine-busting tools

NORTHERN KUWAIT -- When the 1st Battalion, 13th Armor, rolls through Iraq soon, two of its 44 tanks will wield 10-ton tools designed to destroy mines.

The device is a hardened steel roller that connects to the front of a 70-ton Abrams battle tank. It consists of five discs on one side and five on the other side, connected by massive steel arms, with a chain and smaller roller in between.

The heavy discs detonate pressure-activated mines. The small roller in between drags on the ground, creating a magnetic field that triggers mines with magnetic fuses. The tough steel absorbs the blast.

Also . . .

FOUR U.S. SOLDIERS, IRAQI GIRL WOUNDED: Four U.S. soldiers on patrol were wounded Saturday when an Iraqi girl handed them an explosive and it blew up, American military officials said. They said they believed it was an accident.

None of the injuries was life-threatening, said Col. Michael Linnington, commander of the 101st Airborne's 3rd Brigade, the wounded soldiers' unit. One soldier's leg was amputated. The girl suffered a hand injury and was taken away by her family, apparently to a hospital.

JORDAN SEIZES IRAQI PAINTINGS: Jordanian customs authorities have seized 42 paintings believed to have been looted from Iraq's National Museum, government officials said Saturday.

Border officials seized the paintings this week from unidentified people entering Jordan from Iraq's western desert, officials said. It wasn't clear what action had been taken against the alleged smugglers.

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