Bush once again leads a nation in grieving

US PRESIDENT George W Bush was thrust anew into the role of mourner-in-chief on Saturday with the loss of the space shuttle Columbia, offering words of comfort and hope in the face of national tragedy.

Mr Bush is becoming familiar with the role, having led the nation in grieving in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks that changed his presidency.

This time, instead of standing on a crumpled fire truck in the debris of the World Trade Center and defiantly vowing to hunt down those responsible, Mr Bush took to the White House Cabinet Room to offer consoling words in the face of what appeared to be a terrible accident.