Bush banks on offensive weapon

President George W. Bush vigorously defended his first four years in office yesterday, promising to create a safer world and vowing: "I will never relent in defending America - whatever it takes.

"We have fought the terrorists across the earth - not for pride, not for power, but because the lives of our citizens are at stake," he said in accepting the Republican nomination for another term in the White House.

"We are staying on the offensive - striking terrorists abroad - so we do not have to face them here at home," he said.

In a prime-time televised address that concluded the Republican convention in New York and kicked off a two-month race to the November 2 election against Democratic challenger John Kerry, Bush reminded Americans of the September 11, 2001, attacks and defended his decision to go to war in Iraq.

"Do I forget the lessons of September 11 and take the word of a madman, or do I take action to defend our country? Faced with that choice, I will defend America every time," Bush said at Madison Square Garden, 6.5km from the site of the attacks on the World Trade Centre.

"Because we acted to defend our country, the murderous regime of Saddam Hussein and the Taleban are history, more than 50 million people have been liberated and democracy is coming to the Middle East."

The hour-long speech offered Bush a golden - and perhaps last - chance to open up a clear lead over Kerry. It was a prime time, nationally televised climax to a gathering that has, in effect, been a four-day party political broadcast for the Republicans, depicting the President as uniquely able to protect America, and belittling John Kerry as a "flip-flopper" who could not be trusted to protect US national security.

Bush revived his "compassionate conservative" theme from the 2000 election and promised to simplify the tax system, allow private investments of Social Security funds and push policies that would make it easier to own homes and go to college. Bush, however, offered few details.

"Many of our most fundamental systems - the tax code, health coverage, pension plans, worker training - were created for the world of yesterday, not tomorrow," Bush said.

"We will transform these systems so that all citizens are equipped, prepared - and thus truly free - to make your own choices and pursue your own dreams."

Recent polls show Bush gaining ground on Kerry, and some show him moving into a small lead.

They also show him building his advantage over Kerry in areas that have moved to the top of the campaign agenda, such as national security.

Bush drew sharp comparisons with Kerry but in much less scathing language than the attacks launched this week by Vice-President Dick Cheney and convention keynote speaker Zell Miller, a Democratic senator from Georgia.

Bush hinted repeatedly that a vote for Kerry was a vote for the unknown. "Even when we don't agree, at least you know what I believe and where I stand."

He said he and Kerry had different approaches on the war in Iraq and on support for US troops, castigating his opponent for voting against an $87 billion ($133 billion) package to pay for the war and for calling US allies in Iraq "a coalition of the coerced and the bribed".

Though he listed his achievements, he set out an optimistic domestic agenda, laying down his objectives for a second term. These include a simplification of the tax code, measures to make buying a home easier, and to encourage small business start-ups and job training programmes.

He spoke from a specially built circular stage in the centre of the arena, linked by a platform used by other speakers.

The aim, Republican organisers said, was to create a "theatre in the round" effect, highlighting the President's folksy style and increasing the immediacy of his appeal. Less respectful observers described the causeway extending into the arena as the "ego walk".

Bush was accepting the nomination with the political wind in his sails. Though polls continue to show him in a statistical dead heat with Kerry, he has closed the gap in areas such as the economy, and extended his lead on antiterrorism and national security. The campaign is hoping for a bounce, albeit modest, from the convention, that would put Bush in the driving seat as the election battle enters the home stretch.

Kerry advisers have mostly watched proceedings quietly from the sidelines, but were stung to respond after the sharp attacks by Cheney and Miller - in sharp contrast to the Democratic convention in Boston last month, where the order went out to avoid crude Bush-bashing.

Kerry's campaign manager, Mary Beth Cahill, fired off a quick response to Bush and said "40 minutes of a speech can't make up for four years of failure.

"Tonight George Bush will tell us that this is a moment in history that will be remembered. But it will be remembered for the failures and divisiveness of his leadership," Cahill said.

"George Bush squandered our unity and our prosperity. These four negative nights have confirmed the obvious - this country can't take four more years of George Bush's callous presidency."

At a midnight rally in Ohio, Kerry planned to raise Bush's failure to serve in the Vietnam War and ask voters to weigh his two tours of duty against the Vice-President's five deferments.

"I'm not going to have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have and by those who have misled the nation into Iraq," the decorated Vietnam veteran's speech notes said.

Neither Bush, who served in the Texas Air National Guard, nor Cheney went to Vietnam. Cheney has since said he had "other priorities" at the time.

Anti-Bush protests continued around the city, with about 200 activists swarming into Grand Central Station at the height of the morning rush hour to hang banners and chant "Fight Aids, not war".

Police said 19 people were arrested after they sat down around the station's main information booth and refused to move. Nearly 1800 people have been arrested in anti-Bush demonstrations in New York over the past week.

Bush was to leave New York immediately after the speech for a morning rally in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Independent and agencies