By Greg Sukiennik, Associated Press, 02/26/03

MEDFORD, Mass. Former President George Bush offered hope for peace in the Middle East while defending the policies that resulted in war with Iraq 12 years ago, in a speech at Tufts University on Wednesday,

About 300 people voiced opposition to the possibility of another war with Iraq near the auditorium where Bush was appearing.

Inside, Bush was interrupted by protesters twice, but was also applauded.

"If only for a short time, I have seen hope surmount hate in the Middle East," said Bush at the school's annual Fares Lecture. "I've seen people from the Middle East lift their own eyes to the horizon and make a clear choice for peace, realizing they had more to gain by choosing hope over hate."

He held out hope that the situation in Iraq can be resolved peacefully, and dismissed criticism that his son, President George W. Bush, is rushing to war unilaterally, or that the real motivation for war is American desire for oil.

"The more pressure there is, the more chance this matter will be resolved in a peaceful manner," Bush said. "We do not seek hegemony. What we seek after the horror of 9-11 is that we want to protect our country and other countries as best we can against this man Saddam Hussein having nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction. It is just that simple."

He also called for tolerance and an end to stereotyping of Arabs and Arab-Americans, which he said "offends me and concerns me."

Adam Ross, 21, of Columbus, Ohio, said Bush largely spoke in generalities and was unpersuasive.

"He made a good case for the action he had taken (in 1991), but in doing so I feel like it points to all the holes in getting involved right now," Ross said. "(In 1991) He had a clear objective, he had clear support and that's not really forthcoming right now."

Students at Tufts have strong opinions on Iraq and were unlikely to be swayed one way or the other, said Deepa Chungi, 21, of Sharon.

"People went in with their minds made up. If you were going to hate him, you were going to listen to him and hate him," she said.

"I don't think he said anything that was brand new or overly compelling," said Margaret Hennings, 22, of Seattle.

Bush also defended his decision to halt the war against Iraq in 1991, after American-led coalition forces routed the Iraqi army and it appeared that opposition to Hussein might overthrow his regime. He said the United Nations mandate to evict Iraq from Kuwait was clear.

"The coalition would have instantly shattered and the political capital we had gained as a result of our principled restraint to jump-start the peace process would have been lost" if American forces had continued to Baghdad, Bush said.

Before the address, Tufts President Lawrence Bacow called on attendees to show civility and respect for Bush despite the fact many oppose his son's Iraq policy.

That was tested twice.

At the first mention of the words "Desert Storm," a group of about six people stood, some blowing whistles. One woman held an upside-down American flag with an anti-war message, punctuated by an obscenity.

Bush replied with a couple of one-liners as the group was led away. A Tufts spokeswoman did not know if they were arrested.

"I think you really have an eloquent way of expressing yourself," he said to the woman with the flag.

"We've now found a real good reason to use duct tape," he added.

Before the speech, chants of "Drop Bush, not bombs" filled the air, as police in riot gear stood between the protesters, largely made up of college students, and the security entrance for the event.

Medford police said they made about a dozen disorderly conduct arrests.

Protesters held up signs reading "War is not the answer" and a large banner proclaiming "Speak out for peace." Another sign asked the elder Bush to "Tell Jr. to play fair no war on Iraq."

Jeff Salmon, 36, of Somerville said war was not the solution to achieve goal of nonproliferation in Iraq.

"A good portion of the globe including our former allies in Europe think so and 40 percent of Americans agree with them," Salmon, a health care administrator, said. "Maybe (President Bush) should take that into account."

Later, when Bush asserted the war with Iraq was not about oil, a man shouted "Liar!"

"No, no," Bush replied.

A letter of protest signed by 51 people associated with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy was distributed to the media before the speech.

The letter outlined risks of invasion and occupation, including civil war, a rush by competing religious and political factions to claim the country's biological and chemical weapons, and "a multiplier effect resulting in the recruitment of thousands of new terrorists."