November 15, 2003	Saturday	Ramazan 19, 1424

LONDON, Nov 14: US President George Bush said on Friday he was ready for anti-war protests when he visits Britain next week and praised his “smart, trustworthy” friend, Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Thousands are expected to demonstrate against George Bush, who will stay at Queen Elizabeth’s London residence, Buckingham Palace, visit Mr Blair’s northern English constituency and talk to relatives of British soldiers killed in Iraq.

“I can understand people not liking war, if that’s what they are there to protest,” Mr Bush told British reporters in a Washington interview.

“I fully understand not everybody is going to agree with the decisions I’ve made.”

Tony Blair’s public ratings have plunged over the invasion of Iraq, which most Britons opposed. Mounting guerilla resistance seven months after president Saddam Hussein’s fall has raised fears of more British casualties beyond the 20 already killed in combat.

Mr Bush said he would take the opportunity to explain his Iraq policy, which aimed to keep the United States secure and create around the world “free societies... which do not breed terror”.

It was inconceivable the United States would pull out of Iraq or Afghanistan until it had achieved its aims of free and democratic societies, he said. Finding Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden remained among the goals, he added.

A poll of British voters this week showed 60 percent disapproved of Mr Bush’s handling of Iraq, and only 40 percent thought Mr Blair’s close ties with Bush were good for Britain. A new poll in the Daily Mirror on Friday said three out of four Britons believe Bush’s “war on terror is making the world less safe”.

Mr Bush said he would meet the families of some British soldiers killed in Iraq and tell them the prayers of the American people and their president were with them.

“I will tell them that their loved ones did not die in vain. The actions we have taken will make the world more secure and the world more peaceful in the long run.”

But family members of fallen British troops have been some of the occupation’s most vocal critics. Robert Kelly, whose 18-year-old son Andrew died in Basra in May, told BBC radio he had not been invited to meet the president, and did not want to meet him.

“For these people to meet families, it is only for their own gain,” he said. “What does George Bush care about our families and my family? He doesn’t care.”

Mr Bush went out of his way to compliment Mr Blair and denied he slavishly followed Washington.

“I have never heard him complain about the polls or wring his hands. The relationship is a very good relationship because I admire him and I admire somebody who stands tough,” he said.

“He’s plenty independent. If he thought the policy...was wrong, he’d tell me,” Mr Bush said. “He’s a smart, capable, trustworthy friend and we’ve got a lot to talk about.”

That included Iraq, trade and commerce and fighting AIDS.

British government insiders have speculated President Bush will reward Mr Blair for his staunch support since the Sept 11, 2001, attacks.

One possibility would be an announcement in Britain that the United States will lift tariffs protecting its steel industry which were declared illegal by the World Trade Organization this week.

“I am listening, looking and we will decide at an appropriate time,” Mr Bush said.

Mr Bush is due to visit Mr Blair’s constituency in the northern town of Sedgefield, and said he “can’t wait” to get out of the “bubble” of the modern presidency.

“It’s hard for a president to get out to the countryside,” he added.

UNPRECEDENTED SECURITY: A 5,000-strong police operation to ensure the safety of US President George Bush when he comes to London next week will be “unprecedented”, Britain’s most senior police official said on Friday.

The president’s state visit — the first ever by a US president — from Tuesday to Friday will take place amid fears of an attack by extremists.

Sir John Stevens, head of London’s Metropolitan Police, said: “We have to accept the circumstances around the event next week are unprecedented.

“The security is unprecedented because one, the level of terrorism threat and two, the nature of the president’s visit.”

Sir Stevens told reporters that the authorities had to strike a balance between granting people the right to demonstrate while protecting Mr Bush.—Reuters/AFP