Manhattan, KS ? President Bush on Monday vigorously defended the war in Iraq, and warrant-less eavesdropping on communications of individuals within the United States during his speech at Kansas State University.

After the 50-minute speech, a man yelled out “You’ve done good Mr. President,” as approximately 9,000 people cheered at Bramlage Coliseum.

The moment typified the warm reception Bush received during the Landon Lecture. About 150 people demonstrated outside, carrying signs opposed to Bush.

“I oppose everything he does,” said Chris Snyder, a 73-year-old grandmother from Lyons. “He lives in a bubble and has no relationships with common people.”

After his speech, Bush spent approximately an hour taking questions from the audience. During one answer, he revealed that he speaks weekly on the telephone with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

After he left, many of those attending were surprised at how long the president stayed to speak.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius who traveled with the president by vehicle from Forbes Field in Topeka to Manhattan, said, “He was very gracious and easy to talk to.”

Bush spent much of his speech defending his policies in the Middle East as necessary to protect Americans against Al Qaida terrorists.

He defended his administration’s controversial surveillance program conducted by the National Security Agency that was disclosed last month.

Bush has signed orders allowing NSA to eavesdrop, without warrants, on telephone calls and e-mails of individuals within the U.S. who have received communications from people Bush said are Al Qaida suspects.

“If they’re making phone calls into the United States, we need to know why, to protect you,” he said.

Progress was being made in Iraq, he said, describing the situation there as “a magical moment in the history of liberty.”

After the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001, Bush said his primary concern has been in thwarting future attacks and taking the offense against terrorism.

He described terrorists as relentless ideologues who want only to destroy freedom and liberty.

“These folks cannot be appeased,” he said.

More than 800 soldiers from nearby Ft. Riley attended the lecture. One of those, Army Spc. Cathleen Legare, said she was ready to go to Iraq.

“That’s what we are trained for,” she said.

Bush was the third sitting president to deliver a Landon Lecture, a series started in 1966 and named for former Gov. Alf Landon. Presidents Reagan gave the Landon Lecture in 1982 and Nixon in 1970.