Blair Defends Bush Partnership
President's Visit Seen as Chance to Explain Policies

By Glenn Frankel
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, November 12, 2003; Page A19

LONDON, Nov. 11 -- Prime Minister Tony Blair, facing a wave of protest over President Bush's planned state visit here next week, pleaded Tuesday with the British public to give Bush -- and himself -- a chance to explain anew their policies on Iraq and terrorism.

"What I say to them is, just listen to the argument," Blair said in an interview with six American news organizations. "Try not to believe that myself or President Bush are sort of badly motivated people who want to do the worst, just try and look at it from the perspective that we are talking on."