Bush urges Europe to help Iraq

LONDON -- President Bush urged Europe Wednesday to put aside bitter war disagreements with the United States and work to build democracy in Iraq or risk returning the nation to terrorists. Anti-war demonstrators mobilized for a march of tens of thousands today.\nBush conceded in a speech that deep differences remain over Iraq, even among staunch war allies, the United States and Britain.\nBut, he asserted, "we did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq and pay a bitter cost of casualties and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins."\nHis speech followed an elegant welcoming ceremony with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, which included a 41-gun salute and a review of troops on foot and on horseback.\nMeanwhile, anti-war protesters made preparations for huge demonstrations against Bush's 3 1/2-day state visit.\nThere were isolated, smaller demonstrations around the city Wednesday. At one point, as the president's motorcade arrived at Banqueting House for his speech, noisy demonstrators could be seen and easily heard just two blocks away. The demonstrators, held back by police lines, could not be heard inside the hall where Bush spoke.\nBush acknowledged differing views about U.S.-led involvement in postwar Iraq, but said, "Whatever has come before, we now have only two options: To keep our word or to break our word."\n"Failure of democracy in Iraq would throw its people back into misery and turn that country over to terrorists who wish to destroy us," Bush told about 400 foreign policy experts and invited guests.\nHe was warmly received with applause.\nBush asserted that there are times, as with Saddam Hussein in Iraq, when "the violent restraint of violent men" is justified.\n"In some cases, the measured use of force is all that protects us from a chaotic world ruled by force," he said.\nBush said he still strongly supports international organizations, like the United Nations, which he bypassed in going to war in Iraq. But he said the United Nations must be willing to enforce its own demands -- or lose its relevancy.\nTurning to the Middle East, Bush cited several months of "setbacks and frustrations."\nHe said European leaders "should withdraw all favor and support from any Palestinian leader who fails his people and betrays their cause," an apparent reference to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.\nBush urged Israel to end the "daily humiliation" of Palestinians and not to undercut peace prospects "with the placements of walls and fences."\nAlso Wednesday, Bush met with leaders of Parliament and some relatives of the 67 British victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. Today, Bush meets with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose close support of Bush on Iraq has drawn rising public opposition in Britain.\n"It really is about time we started to realize who our allies are, who our enemies are, stick with the one and fight the other," Bush told the House of Commons earlier. His remarks drew loud applause.\nBush and first lady Laura Bush were guests of honor at a white-tie state dinner Wednesday night thrown by the queen at Buckingham Palace, where the Bushes were staying during the visit.\nDemonstrators gathered behind metal barriers near the palace, watched by large numbers of yellow-jacketed police officers. As darkness fell, police scuffled with some of the several hundred demonstrators who assembled outside the palace and banged drums, blew whistles and charged "Bush go home!"\n"Bush stole the presidency. Blair lied to the people. Bush led us down the path of war. They are not listening to the public," Nina Baker, a Scottish Green Party activist from Glasgow, said Wednesday outside Buckingham Palace.\nOn the other hand, Denis McShane, European minister in Blair's government and a Labor Party activist, described Bush's address as a "very forward-looking" speech. "It belies some of the views people have had of the president in the past ... that of a caricature," he said.\nMeanwhile, a British inquiry was underway to find out how Ryan Parry, a reporter for the Daily Mirror newspaper, had infiltrated Buckingham Palace ahead of Bush's state visit.\nUsing a fake reference to get a job on the royal staff, the reporter was assigned to serve members of Bush's party in an embarrassing breach of security.\nWhite House spokeswoman Claire Buchan told reporters, "We have every confidence in the British security"