President Bush’s speech today in Salt Lake City sounded themes we’re likely to hear again on Wednesday when he speaks on the war on terror at the Idaho Center in Nampa. Here’s an AP account of his remarks this morning at the Veterans of Foreign Wars annual convention: “President Bush compared the fight against terrorism to both world wars and other great conflicts of the 20th century as he tried to reassure an increasingly skeptical public on Monday to support U.S. military involvement in Iraq. With the anti-war movement finding new momentum behind grieving mother Cindy Sheehan, Bush acknowledged the fighting in Iraq is difficult and dangerous. But he told the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention the fight is necessary to keep terrorists out of the United States. As he did in last year’s election campaign and more recently as war opposition has risen, Bush reminded his listeners of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 – reciting the date five times in a 30-minute speech. “We’re not yet safe,” Bush said. “Terrorists in foreign lands still hope to attack our country. They still hope to kill our citizens. The lesson of Sept. 11, 2001, is that we must confront threats before they fully materialize.”

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, an anti-war Democrat, was booed during remarks to the veterans groups two hours before Bush spoke, the AP reported. Anderson later addressed hundreds gathered at an anti-war rally three blocks away.

The White House press office says Bush’s speech in Idaho on Wednesday will start at 11:10 a.m. and likely last 45 to 50 minutes.