Bush promises safer world

3.45pm UPDATE

NEW YORK - US President George W. Bush has vigorously defended his first four years in office, 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," Bush 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 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, four miles 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."

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," he said.

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 the Massachusetts senator 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 on Wednesday by Vice President Dick Cheney and convention keynote speaker Zell Miller, a Democratic senator from Georgia.

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

He 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.

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."

Kerry planned to fire back at Vice President Dick Cheney for Wednesday's criticisms, when he accused Kerry of indecision and questioned his fitness to be commander in chief.

At a midnight rally in Ohio, Kerry planned to raise the Republican's failure to serve in the Vietnam War and asked 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 said in excerpts of his speech.

Neither Bush, who served in the Texas Air National Guard, nor Cheney went to Vietnam. The vice president obtained five deferments and 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 the sat down around the station's main information booth and refused to move. Nearly 1,800 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 the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania, where he planned a morning rally on Friday.

- REUTERS