Berlin Gears up for Bush

Berlin police is bracing for the worst. They are mounting the biggest security operation the German capital has ever seen. Berlin police have drafted in some 10,000 extra officers to keep the peace during U.S. President Bush's visit to the German capital. George W. Bush is due to visit Berlin on Wednesday and Thursday.

But tens of thousands of predominately left-wing demonstrators will also be flocking to the city. Their demonstrations are being organized by a group that calls itself "The Axis of Peace". Veteran peace activist Uri Avnery, who co-founded Israel's Gush Shalom movement, is one of the people expected to speak at a demonstration on Tuesday evening before Bush's arrival.

Berlin security officials expect that most of the protests during Bush's visit will be peaceful. "I don't see any danger for our guest," Berlin's interior senator Ehrhart Körting told dpa news agency.

Demonstrations could turn violent

But police fear that there will be splinter groups of potentially violent anti-globalization extremists among the protesters.

Germany's internal secret service, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, said that trouble could be expected from several potentially violent groups planning demonstrations against what they call U.S. ''adventurism'' and "militarism''.

"There are some groups calling for violence which we've monitored," says Henrieke Morgenstern, a spokeswoman for the city's interior ministry. "There are various calls for mobilization on the Internet. If there is any violence from any of these people police will respond immediately."

"Bush is coming as a friend" - Schröder

In an interview with Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (photo) warned demonstrators against using violence. "Anyone who mistakes the freedom to demonstrate with outright violence, will meet with strong resistance from the police. We'll see to that."

Schröder called Bush a "good friend of Germany," and said the U.S. President was very welcome here.

Concerned about what America will think

"I cannot prevent demonstrations in a free country," Schröder said earlier this week. "But I deeply regret that there are people who draw attention to themselves in this way."

Members of German parliament, the Bundestag, have also said they are very concerned about the demonstrations possibly turning violent. They aren't just worried about the security aspects of the visit, they're nervous about Germany's image abroad – especially in the U.S.

The deputy head of Germany's post-communist PDS, Peter Porsch insists that the demonstrations will not be anti-American: "The protests aren't directed against America, but against a specific kind of policy of the U.S. administration." The PDS is the only political party in the Bundestag that actively supports demonstrations against the U.S. military policies.

The Greens - divided

Germany's Greens Party, the junior partner in Chancellor Schröder's government coalition, hotly debated whether to take part in street demonstrations. The majority of the Greens are opposed to any greater German involvement in the U.S.-led War Against Terror. And they are vehemently against America extending the anti-terrorism campaign to countries like Iraq.

But many members of the Greens – among them German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer (photo) - didn't want to support street demonstrations which could in the end turn violent. They knew this would tarnish the Green party's pacifist reputation.

The Greens have now scheduled their own protest – due to take place an hour before the "Axis of Peace" demonstration.

In addition, the Greens hope they will find a different setting to let President Bush know their views on the War Against Terror. Those who are ambivalent about following Bush into every battle think the point should be made more subtly when Bush addresses the Bundestag on May 23. They say the Bundestag would be a better place to express measured opinions on how far Germany is prepared to go in supporting the U.S.-led War Against Terrorism.

Public opinion in Germany is still deeply divided over sending German troops abroad because of Germany's militaristic past. But opposition is not as great as it once was.

In recent years, Germany has committed troops for the Balkans and Afghanistan and German naval contingents are stationed off the Horn of Africa.