NEW YORK (AP) - Former President George W. Bush had a hearty message for troops serving in Iraq - and delivered it on a silly TV comedy show.

Appearing in a pretaped spot during Comedy Central's ``The Colbert Report'' on Thursday, Bush hailed the military.

``Your achievements in Iraq have earned you a special place in American history. You are men and women of great courage and endurance - and that's gonna come in handy,'' Bush noted, winding up to zing Stephen Colbert, the blustery ``Colbert Report'' host: ``I've sat through Stephen's stuff before.''

Bush said former first lady Laura Bush joined him in the shout-out.

``The Colbert Report,'' with Colbert as its comically pompous, conservative host, originated this week from Camp Victory on the western edge of Baghdad. The show's home base is Manhattan.

Comedy Central is owned by Viacom Inc.

06/12/09 12:35 © Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.