Bush Kicks Off State Visit to Britain

President George W. Bush started the first day of his official three-and-a-half day state visit to Great Britain on Wednesday with lots of bells and whistles. As the first U.S. President to make an official state visit to Britain since Woodrow Wilson in 1918, President Bush was given the full treatment, including an official reception at Buckingham Palace by Queen Elizabeth II. There he was treated to a 41-gun salute and a performance of the American anthem.

President Bush then made his way to London’s Banqueting House, where he gave a key-note speech. In the address, the president defended his Iraq policy, addressed the future role of the United Nations in international affairs, and urged Israel to cease building a controversial security wall. He, however, did not -- as some Europeans had hoped -- announce the repeal of steel tariffs.

Bush defends his Iraq policy

In his speech, Bush defended his Iraq policy, which has been opposed by many in England and elsewhere in Europe. In doing so, the president drew parallels from European history. He compared the threat posed by Saddam Hussein to that posed by the Nazis, communism and, most recently, ethnic cleansing.

“Let us never forget how Europe’s unity was achieved: by allied armies of liberation and NATO’s armies of defense,” he said. “Together our nations are standing and sacrificing…in a distant land at this very hour.”

As he has done many time since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 and the start of the conflict in Iraq, Bush vowed to persevere, saying his country would remain committed to building democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan, and ultimately win the war on terror.

“Great responsibilities have fallen once again to the great democracies. We will face these threats with open eyes and we will defeat them,” he said.

The president also had a message for Israel: he urged the government not to prejudice peace talks by building “walls and fences.” On the topic of the United Nations he was also critical, saying his country, in partnership with Great Britain, would do everything in its power to prevent the United Nations from “solemnly choosing its own irrelevance and inviting the fate of the League of Nations.”

But what’s likely to be the focus of many analysts' attention is what Bush failed to say. He did not give any indication that he would repeal a controversial tariff on steel imports.

This issue has been a prickly issue between the United States and the EU, and if it remains unresolved it could spark a trade war.

On Wednesday night, President Bush will attend a state banquet hosted by the Queen.

Massive protests planned for Thursday

During the official ceremony at Buckingham Palace and Bush’s speech at the Banqueting House, protesters could be heard in the distance. But their numbers were relatively small, compared to the massive protest which is expected to take place on Thursday. The Stop the War Coalition estimates that 100,000 protesters will come out on the streets of London.

Known for his humorous one liners, President Bush could not resist making reference to the protesters in his speech. “It was pointed out to me that the last noted American to visit London stayed in a glass box dangling over the Thames,” said the president, making reference to the illusionist David Blaine. “A few might have been happy to provide similar arrangements for me. I thank Her Majesty the Queen for interceding.”

A security breach at Buckingham Palace, however, was no laughing matter for royal officials and U.S. security personnel. A reporter for the London-daily “The Mirror” used fake references to secure at job at the palace. Had he not given notice the day before Bush’s arrival, he claimed he would have been close enough to the president to assassinate him. The revelations have prompted a review of security procedures.

More than 5,000 police have been called into service at a cost of more than €7 million ($8.3 million). Officials are stepping up security measures for the larger numbers of protestors expected for Thursday. Protestors' groups have promised the demonstrations will be peaceful.