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As police braced for massive demonstrations against the war in Iraq, U.S. President Bush opened a state visit with America's staunchest ally Tuesday, arguing that the use of force sometimes is the only way to defend important values.

U.S. President George W. Bush , right, walks with Britain's Prince Charles during the arrival ceremony at Heathrow Airport in London Nov. 18, 2003.  [AP]

Bush's three-day state visit comes at a time of mounting death tolls among coalition troops, fresh terror threats and widespread unhappiness among the British and other Europeans over Prime Minister Tony Blair's close support for Bush's Iraq policies.

The president and his wife, Laura, were greeted Tuesday evening at Heathrow Airport by Prince Charles. The Bushes then flew on a U.S. Marine helicopter to Buckingham Palace, where they were spending three nights as the guests of Queen Elizabeth II.

The relative quiet of the airport greeting provided a contrast to expected noisy anti-war and anti-Bush protests in other parts of the city.

Hundreds turned out for the first of a number of planned protests on Tuesday, and London police prepared for larger demonstrations over the next few days, including a march on Thursday past Parliament that organizers said could draw 100,000 demonstrators.

In a speech on Wednesday, Bush will argue that war is sometimes necessary as a last choice, said a senior administration official traveling with him on Air Force One.

"History has shown that there are times when countries must use force to defend the peace and to defend values," Bush was to say.

A banner was held by a demonstrator depicting U.S. President George W. Bush as a criminal, during an anti-climate change protest in central London, Nov. 18, 2003.   [Reuters]

But Bush did not plan to elaborate further on when it is necessary to go to war.

He also is expected to renew his call for countries across the globe, particularly in the Middle East, to embrace democracy.

The president will acknowledge that the Iraq war and occupation are unpopular, the official said

"It has been a difficult time, when the alliance has been asked to do difficult things," the president will suggest, said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Bush also will praise the British for overcoming adversity in the past in defending freedom and democratic values.

Both British and U.S. officials sought to put the best face on a visit that seemed likely to be remembered more for anti-war street demonstrations than for the celebration of the Anglo-American alliance that had been intended by both governments.

Recent polls indicate the British public holds Bush in generally low regard and views Blair's stalwart support for him as a liability.

Prince Charles greeted the Bushes as they descended, hand in hand, the steps of Air Force One. Also greeting them was Will Farish, the U.S. ambassador to Britain and a longtime Bush family friend and GOP fund-raiser.

U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush wave from the steps of Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Nov. 18, 2003. Bush is flying to London for a four-day state visit to Britain.  [Reuters]

The group then walked along a red carpet between troops and met for a few minutes in an airport reception building.

A larger arrival ceremony was planned for Wednesday at Buckingham Palace. After his speech on the trans-Atlantic alliance, Bush was to meet with British families who lost loved ones in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and attend a banquet at the palace.

On Thursday, Bush was to tour London and meet with British soldiers who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. There are 9,000 British troops in Iraq.

On Friday he will travel to northern England to join Blair and his wife, Cherie, in the town where the Blairs have a home.

In the meetings with Blair, Bush will discuss developments in Iraq, the Middle East peace process and nuclear tensions with Iran and North Korea, aides said.

Bush will have no announcements on lifting or modifying U.S. steel tariffs — an issue on which the United States and Britain are at odds — during the visit, but will talk about the matter with Blair, said the official who briefed reporters on Air Force One.

The World Trade Organization ruled last week that the steel tariffs, imposed by Bush in March 2002, were a violation of international trade law. Leaving them in place risks near-certain retaliation against U.S. products by European and other nations.

Blair has urged Bush to abide by the WTO ruling and lift the tariffs. But the president is under political pressure from steelmakers in electorally important states — including Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia — to leave them in place.

Aides also said there would likely be no announcement from Bush on the continued holding of nine British citizens by the United States at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Queen Elizabeth, who invited Bush nearly 18 months ago, has met with each of the 11 American presidents who have served during her reign, beginning with Harry Truman in 1952. Bush's visit, however, was the first one to be dubbed a full-fledged "state visit" by the British, although then-President Reagan's 1982 visit had most of the trappings of one, including a visit to the queen in Windsor Castle and an address to Parliament.

The protest rallies scheduled during Bush's visit will include an anti-Bush march through London on Thursday, culminating in the planned toppling of a mock statue of Bush in Trafalgar Square.

At a demonstration outside Buckingham Palace shortly ahead of Bush's arrival, Ann Butler, 63, shouted that Bush thinks he's Wyatt Earp.

"This country's lost enough men in war," said Butler, one of about 100 protesters.

But Mike Rigas of Boston, 31, wearing a U.S. flag and a British poppy, said he came out to "support my president. He's coming to a tough crowd here, but I believe the U.S. and Britain are engaged in a a noble cause in Iraq."

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