Bush: Anti-war protests no deterrent

Administration to push ahead for a Security Council resolution

By Ron Fournier

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON -- President Bush declared today that he wouldn't be deterred by global protests against war with Iraq, saying "I respectfully disagree" with those who doubt that Saddam Hussein is a threat to peace.

He said such a war remains a final resort, but "the risk of doing nothing is even a worse option as far as I'm concerned."

Despite heavy opposition at the United Nations and protests around the world, the Bush administration appeared ready to push ahead this week for a new Security Council resolution that could open the way for war.

Bush said that the size of the protests against a possible U.S.-led war against Iraq was irrelevant.

"Size of protest, it's like deciding, 'Well I'm going to decide policy based up on a focus group.' The role of a leader is to decide policy based upon the security -- in this case -- security of the people."

Millions of people around the world took to the streets over the weekend to protest such a war.

"Democracy is a beautiful thing, and that people are allowed to express their opinion," Bush said.

"Some in the world don't view Saddam Hussein as a risk to peace," he added. "I respectfully disagree."

Bush said that Saddam Hussein continued to pose a very real threat to Americans and to the world.

The president expressed confidence that the United States would come up with an acceptable aid package for Turkey, a close U.S. ally in the region who will play a vital role if there is military action against Baghdad.

Bush said Turkey has "no better friend than the American government" and that Washington and Ankara were still working out details of an aid package.

The U.S. military plans to use bases in Turkey both for aircraft and for ground forces in the event of an attack on Turkey's neighbor to the south.

Bush indicated that he was running out of patience. Asked if he planned to set an ultimatum for Saddam's compliance, Bush suggested that would be pointless, like extending "another, another, another last chance."

"He knows my feelings, and that is, he needs to disarm -- completely and totally disarm. He's a fellow that likes to buy time and buy it through deception and delay."

The global anti-war protests have put the White House on the defensive. Presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer began his daily briefing by reading newspaper clips about demonstrations against the staging of missiles in Germany in the early 1980s, and said, "This is not the first time there have been mass protests and in a previous instance America stood on principle ... and as a result the Berlin Wall came down."

He also told reporters that former President Franklin Roosevelt overcame protests from isolationists to lead American into World War II.

"Often the message of protesters is contradicted by history," he said.

BFD. What do you expect? Bush to say, "your right?"

This news is good. It says, "Bush forced to respond to anti-war protesters."

Protesting's affect takes time. Its affects are hidden.

Great job.

but we now know he was lying. Bush has nothing but

contempt for democracy and the will of the people,

but he knows these rallies matter, which is why we've

got Patriot Act II and denial of march permits

and anti-war protesters being branded traitors and all

the rest. And the number of people opposing the war

particularly matter in Europe, where it's actually mentioned

for more than 15 seconds on TV, and where most of

the governments are opposing the war despite the

tremendous pressure, bribery, and blackmail they

are being subjected to by the U.S. The U.S. is

preparing to pull all troups out of Germany and

cut off trade, solely to punish them economically

for opposing Bush. It will take tremendous public

support to keep the German government to caving in.

Nobody gives a rat's ass about the protests, except the protesters themselves. They are mightily impressed with themselves.

The rest of us yawn. That goes for GWB too.

If grownups want to make fools of themselves, it's their right, let them do it.

Why else would I be here?

man ive had enough of american melodrama. seriously. from the melodrama of september 11th to the "war on terrorism" to the american patriotism propaganda to the anti-war protests.

why cant americans just be normal?

Nixon asked to have hourly reports from the CIA about the size of demonstrations, and the CIA was instructed to aim spy satellites down on the U.S. to produce "grid photographs" enabling accurate counting of individuals.