Pomp or Protest?

The protests began on Monday

It's the first official state visit by a US president to the UK - differing from previous trips because of the high-level of pageantry, organised by Buckingham Palace.

But aside from the pomp and ceremony, the President's visit includes a round of political talks and meetings with relatives of war casualties.

President Bush will arrive later today and be welcomed by the Queen at a private reception at Buckingham Palace

Tomorrow, he'll give his keynote speech on the transatlantic alliance. The President will later attend a state banquet at Buckingham Palace

On Thursday, he'll join Tony Blair for talks at Number 10, also visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The President will later host a dinner at the US Ambassador's residence

And on Friday, he'll visit Tony Blair's constituency in Sedgefield, before flying home to Washington

Breakfast spoke to Tim Spangler who is the chairman of American political group Republicans Abroad in the UK.
He said the relationship between the two countries is solid, and a leader makes his decision knowing he may not please everyone.

The author and journalist William Shawcross was one of the strongest supporters of the case for war. He's written a new book on the subject, "Allies: The US, Britain, Europe and the War in Iraq".
He told Breakfast the bottom line is the armed forces have liberated many Iraqis, whose lives are much better now. He said we are not aware of the sub-text, things such as 1500 schools having opened and 30 million vaccinations having been given.

James Rubin was the Assistant Secretary of State in the Clinton administration, and he spoke on Breakfast about the relationship America has with Britain.

Scotland Yard has increased the scale of the £5m police operation to 14,000 officers for Mr Bush's four-day trip.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators are expected to march on London's streets to protest at his visit and voice their opposition to the Iraq war.

As well as fears of disorder, police are also responding to a heightened terrorist threat from al Qaeda.

THE PRESIDENT'S ARMOURED CAR

1. The car is a special armour-plated version of the Cadillac deVille

2. The tyres are designed to function even if punctured

3. The exact dimensions and specifications of the car are kept secret

4. The driver is able to use night-vision technology

5. The underside of the car is also armour-plated

6. The car can carry six people

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Despite the huge numbers of police preparing for the visit, one female demonstrator managed to climb the front gates of Buckingham Palace on Monday to protest, before coming down voluntarily.

The UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has responded to those critical of the timing of the visit by insisting Britain was right to join the US in "defeating terrorism".

He said recent terror attacks in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and in Iraq on the UN and Red Cross, illustrated the dangers faced by the world.

"This is the right moment for us to stand firm with the United States in defeating terrorism wherever it is and delivering us safely from what I genuinely believe to be the security threat of the 21st Century," Mr Blair told a CBI conference in Birmingham on Monday.

"Now is not the time to waver, now is the time to see it through."

Police have stepped up the security operation for Mr Bush's visit amid a heightened state of alert about a possible terrorist attack from al Qaeda.

Extra police have been placed at ports and airports and checking people arriving on Eurostar trains from France.

Scotland Yard, which controls security for the visit, said on Monday it had increased the number of officers on the street from 5,000 to 14,000.

No immunity

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Trotter said the Metropolitan Police's decision to use almost half its numbers of officers during the president's visit had been taken primarily because of security concerns.

"We are on a very high level of alert at the moment. We obviously have the visit of the president coinciding with that and we've got to make sure that London is kept safe and the visit goes well," he told BBC's World at One programme.

Mr Bush will also be protected by hundreds of armed guards from the US.

They will not be granted diplomatic immunity, and will be subject to the British legal system if they shoot anybody, the Home Office has promised.

Find out the route of the protesters' march.

Enlarge Map

Mr Bush has shrugged off the prospect of protests, saying he supports free speech and expects the trip to be "fantastic".

Police had a meeting with the Stop the War Coalition, along with CND, the Muslim Association of Britain and Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, on Monday afternoon for a final consultation on which roads can be included in the march.

Mr Corbyn emerged later saying the route was the one which they had originally asked for, having reassured police that it would be a peaceful protest.

Charles Kennedy, leader of the UK's third largest party the Lib Dems, urged protesters to "use the opportunity to leave the president in no doubt as to the extent of public concern... about the way in which events tragically have unfolded".

As Mr Bush and his wife arrive in London on Tuesday, a Stop Bush rally will be held near Euston Station.

And on Wednesday, when the president is due at Buckingham Palace, there will be an "alternative state procession" including a Big Red Peace Bus.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone is holding a peace party in City Hall on Wednesday, attended by many groups opposed to the war in Iraq.