Manhattan ? President Bush on Monday defended the war in Iraq and controversial warrant-less eavesdropping during a speech at Kansas State University.

Referring to communications involving suspected al-Qaida terrorists, Bush said, “If they’re making phone calls into the United States, we need to know why, to protect you.”

Bush received a warm welcome during his visit to deliver the Landon Lecture.

He saw the Flint Hills shrouded in fog, was given a K-State football jersey with the No. 43 on it to denote his presidency, and was at turns serious and joking for the 9,000 people in Bramlage Coliseum.

After the 50-minute speech, a man yelled out “You’ve done good, Mr. President.”

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.”

Candid comments

After his speech, Bush spent about an hour taking questions from the audience.

After he left, many of those attending said they were surprised at how long the president stayed to speak and his candor.

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.”

• Transcript of Bush’s Landon Lecture
• 6News video: Warm welcome for Bush
• President lauds work by Lawrence woman

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

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

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.

Critics have said the eavesdropping without court approval is illegal.

Bush said the practice was cleared by attorneys and that he had briefed members of Congress about it.

“If I wanted to break the law, why was I briefing members of Congress?” he asked.

After Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, 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 Fort Riley attended the lecture.

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.

Fogged in

Bush’s visit started at Forbes Field where the president gave the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Lawrence resident Janet Dunn, a Kansas National Guard master sergeant, for her work in helping families of National Guard service members who have been deployed.

Because of the thick fog, Bush’s helicopter could not fly out of Forbes, so Bush, Sebelius and U.S. Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts shared the back of an SUV in the ride to Manhattan.

“It was a great opportunity,” said Sebelius, who said she talked with Bush about Medicare and National Guard concerns.

“He got to see the Kansas Flint Hills, and he commented on how beautiful it was,” she said.

Some people had heard of the last minute travel changes, and were along the road waving flags, she said.

Wide-ranging questions

After his speech, Bush gave sometimes lengthy answers to a wide range of audience questions, sometimes admitting he was rambling on.

He said he was “deeply concerned” that Iran was continuing nuclear research, and that the U.S. has a “complex relationship” with China.

Asked if he had seen the movie Brokeback Mountain, he said, “I haven’t seen it.”

Tara Mossa, an Arabic teacher at K-State who is from Iraq, praised Bush for toppling the regime of Saddam Hussein, saying she lost 10 family members to the dictator.

She said some of her family members had been elected to offices in Iraq. Bush told her to tell her relatives to “work to form a unity government.”

During one answer, Bush revealed that he speaks weekly on the telephone with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

On other subjects, Bush said he would continue to push for changes to Social Security and passage of a temporary worker program for immigrants.

He seemed stumped on a question about why Republican budget writers were trying to cut college student loans.

He said they didn’t want to cut loans but make the program more efficient. When Congress returns next week, a Senate plan would reduce federal student aid by $12.7 billion.

Positive reaction

Dozens of elected officials attended the speech; state Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, even got a quick handshake from Bush as he left the stage.

Most of the reaction to Bush’s visit was positive, both to how long the president spoke and his comments.

“It was a huge day for the Little Apple and the state of Kansas,” said former state Sen. Lana Oleen, a Republican from Manhattan.

“He really responded to a wide variety of issues,” she said.

“He laid out well the reasons for the war in Iraq,” Sen. Nick Jordan, R-Shawnee, said.

Sue Robinson, of Manhattan, said Bush was “an amazing person. He answered all the questions thoroughly. He didn’t seem like he was rushed.”

Outside, demonstrators had a different viewpoint.

“We would like to see our troops come home,” said Danielle Richardson, a K-State student, as she held up a peace sign.

Jeremy Williams, also a K-State student, held up a “Bush Lies” sign in the early morning chill.

“If it means having cold hands, it’s worth it,” he said.

The protesters were roped off in an area beside an entrance where busloads of soldiers from Fort Riley walked by.

Army Spc. Cathleen Legare said she was ready to go to Iraq.

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