Bush's arguments for war were not new, but they were his first public statements on the war since his national security and defense advisers visited his Texas ranch on Aug. 11. Since then, the limelight has shifted to protesters camping at a neighbor's ranch, asking that he bring the troops home immediately.

One of the Texas protesters, Celeste Zappala of Pennsylvania, flew to Salt Lake City to speak at the rally. Zappala said the large turnout gave her hope for peace. Zappala's son Sherwood Baker died while serving with the Pennsylvania National Guard, and she expressed surprise at the rally's large turnout.

"It amazes me," said Zappala. "I always thought of Salt Lake as a sleepy, conservative, buttoned-up place."

One Salt Lake resident who came out for the protest was retired Air Force Lt. Col. George Muller of Salt Lake City. He said he believed the country's attitude toward the war has shifted.

"It's like Vietnam all over again, and I opposed that too," Muller said.

Some of the veterans that Bush addressed said they felt the protests were disrespectful to the troops. Among them was 78-year-old Willie Hunsaker of Brigham City, Idaho, a World War II veteran who got a commemorative pin from Bush for the nearly 1,200 hours he volunteers yearly.

"We're always going to have protesters, but to protest President Bush for what he's done, that's completely asinine," he said.