Schwarzkopf Captures Capitol Hill by Storm : Homecoming: Gulf commander praises President, Americans and Congress and gets six standing ovations.

WASHINGTON — Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf took Capitol Hill by storm Wednesday, earning thunderous standing ovations as he extolled the American people for their all-out support during the Persian Gulf conflict and President Bush for giving the military a free hand to win the war with minimum casualties.

The four-star general also praised Congress--which only narrowly authorized the use of force last January--for providing modern weapons to fight the desert conflict that ousted the Iraqi army from Kuwait in seven weeks of combat with a loss of only 147 American lives.

In a blunt, toughly worded speech about as subtle as an M-1 battle tank, Schwarzkopf castigated “the prophets of doom, the naysayers, the protesters and the flag-burners” who predicted that public support for the war would fade away.

Addressing himself directly to “the great people of the United States of America” rather than to the lawmakers in front of him, the general declared: “We knew that you would never let us down. And, by golly, you didn’t.”

The mood in the House chamber was upbeat and celebratory, with the Army Band playing patriotic tunes and military songs while the general made his way among backslapping, handshaking admirers from both parties and various points on the political spectrum.

Schwarzkopf--the first military commander to receive a special congressional tribute since Gen. William Westmoreland reported on the prolonged Vietnam struggle in 1967--delivered a stirring tribute to the U.S. armed forces. “We were the thunder and lightning of Desert Storm,” he said. “We were the United States military and damn proud of it!”

That declaration produced the first of six standing ovations. The burly Schwarzkopf beamed and directed the applause to 21 enlisted veterans of the war who were seated to the right of the podium on the House floor.

The 56-year-old general, who will lead victory parades in Washington and New York City, gave no indication of what he plans to do after his retirement in August. But he has signed with a New York agent, Marvin Josephson of International Creative Management, to write a book and possibly make a speaking tour.

Asked by a reporter about potential fees for a Schwarzkopf speech, Josephson replied: “That’s the last thing I would discuss with the press.” Josephson also represents former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger and television personality Barbara Walters.

In his 20-minute appearance, Schwarzkopf said that he never would have any greater reward than the inspiration he received daily during the Gulf War from the troops serving under his command.

“We left our homes and our families and traveled thousands of miles away and fought in places whose names we could not even pronounce, simply because you asked us to. And it therefore became our duty, because that’s what your military does,” he said.

Then, referring to the Vietnam War--which divided the American people and ended in defeat--Schwarzkopf received another standing ovation when he said:

“We feel a particular pride in joining ranks with that special group who served their country in the mountains, jungles and deltas of Vietnam--they served just as proudly as we served in the Middle East.”

In another allusion to military commanders’ complaints during the Vietnam conflict that the White House had tied their hands, Schwarzkopf praised President Bush’s attitude.

“We would like to thank our commander in chief for his wisdom and courage and the confidence he demonstrated in us by allowing us to fight this war in such a way that we were able to minimize our casualties--that’s the right way to fight a war,” he said.

While thanking Congress and former administrations for providing the military with the finest weapons and equipment in the world, Schwarzkopf added a cautionary note. “We would ask that in the years to come, as we reduce the quantity of our armed forces, that you never forget that it is the quality of our armed forces that wins wars,” he said.

With his wife, Brenda, and two daughters, a son and a sister watching from the gallery, the general saluted military families as well.

“It is your love that gave us strength in our darkest hours,” he said with a glance at his own family. “You are truly the wind beneath our wings.”

Almost every member of Congress and most members of the Senate came to hear the general. Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.) introduced him as “a man who has made every American proud.” Despite near-universal acclaim for his speech, a few dissenting comments were heard.

“I wished he hadn’t put ‘protesters’ and ‘flag-burners’ in the same line,” said California Rep. Vic Fazio (D-West Sacramento). “There is a difference.”

But another Californian, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands), reflected a more common view of Schwarzkopf in the House. “He tapped a broad cross-section of the membership. . . . He told it as it is in the halls of Congress, where critics of the military are abundant.”