ORANGE COUNTY AND THE GULF WAR : Bush Backers Counter the Peace People : Demonstrations: Young Republicans, others gather to show the flag and support the President’s Persian Gulf policies.

As the bombing of Iraq went into its third day, demonstrators renewed their efforts throughout Orange County on Friday, but with a twist--giving support to President Bush.

For the first time this week, the band of anti-war protesters outside the Federal Building in downtown Santa Ana were outnumbered by people carrying flags and signs backing the Bush Administration in the Persian Gulf War.

At El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, about 50 Young Republicans held a demonstration near the main gate in support of Bush’s actions. In Anaheim, another group of supporters held a demonstration later in the evening.

At Laguna Beach High School, students canceled an anti-war protest. A student, who did not give his name, said the Iraqi bombardment of Israel had caused many students to change their minds.

But anti-war sentiments were still heard in Orange County Friday, as 200 UC Irvine students gathered to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and his teachings of nonviolence.

Just outside the El Toro Marine base, the Young Republicans led demonstrators in an enthusiastic show of support for the troops, as well as for President Bush. They gathered at about 4:45 p.m. at the intersection of Sand Canyon and El Toro roads, about a block from the base’s main gate.

Waving American flags and placards that read “Freedom Is Not Free” and “God Bless America,” the Young Republicans got waves and thumbs-up signals from Marines driving to and from the base.

“We’re tired of seeing on TV all the protesting (against the war), and we want to show how many people are for our troops, our President, and our country,” said Clive Friedenrich, 35, president of the Orange County Young Republicans.

Another demonstrator in the crowd was Meryl Sweeney, 52, a retired schoolteacher from San Juan Capistrano. She said she became concerned about anti-war protests after hearing Bush say that a soldier in Saudi Arabia had become disheartened after seeing demonstrators on news broadcast beamed from the United States.

“It really made us realize how important it is to them (the troops) that people support them,” Sweeney said. “Now, we have to get behind our country. We’re the silent majority. We’re not the ones who get out and scream.”

In Anaheim, a small but vocal group of demonstrators rallied in the evening to show support for American troops. More than 30 demonstrators carrying home-made signs, banners and flags gathered at Harbor Boulevard and Katella Avenue, where they captured the attention of hundreds of passing motorists, many of whom honked their horns in approval.

“I think that all the anti-war protests are bad for the troops. Those people have no moral values,” said A.J. White, 17, of Anaheim, whose father, Gunnery Sgt. Larry White, has been in the Middle East for several months. “What we need now in the United States is unity. We don’t need their hindrances.”

Attending the rally were children as young as 6 carrying flags.

Danielle Muns, 10, a fifth-grader from Bellflower, said: “I think that everybody has to support the men fighting in the war. The other stuff isn’t helpful.”

But at UCI, which has been the county’s hotbed for anti-war protest, students against the conflict in the Persian Gulf continued to demonstrate Friday. When about 200 UCI students gathered to jointly commemorate King and world peace, sentiments against the war were clearly heard.

“Dr. Martin Luther King was a man of peace,” said Erylene Piper-Mandy, a social science professor who addressed students before the Friday march and rally began. “I believe in the principles of Martin Luther King.”

Flanked by banners reading “Stop the Violence” and “Drop the Bomb, Bring the Troops Home, and Begin the Impeachment Process,” students bowed their heads in silence to pray for a speedy and peaceful resolution to the war. Backers of King joined hands with anti-war demonstrators, a representative of the Muslim Student Union, and others.

“We are very ambivalent,” said Sajid Minhas, a senior who has relatives in Kuwait. “Saddam Hussein is not a hero to us, but the bombs that are dropping are falling on our families.”

Among those addressing the crowd was Tim Carpenter, who had been in federal custody less than 24 hours earlier for blocking the entrance to the Federal Building in Santa Ana.

“I think people were saddened by the attack on Israel, but not surprised,” Carpenter said. “So far, the U.S. has said it would bomb Iraq, Iraq has said it would attack Israel, and Israel has said it would retaliate. The one glimmer of hope is that Israel didn’t respond.”

At the Federal Building in Santa Ana’s Civic Center, only 13 anti-war protesters showed up Friday, less than half the number that gathered Thursday. By contrast, about 30 people, mostly women, had a counterdemonstration to show support for President Bush. These demonstrators carried white balloons, American flags and signs that read, “We Support Our Troops.”

Two anti-war protesters were arrested about 9 a.m. for blocking employees from entering the Federal Building.

Eleanor Henry of Laguna Beach and Jo Ann Rayfield of Santa Ana walked to the front entrance and sat down in the doorway. Santa Ana police officers, wearing riot gear, promptly arrested them.

In an interview before the arrest, Henry said she was protesting because the gulf war was intensifying.

“With the bombing of Israel, we’re getting deeper and deeper into the war,” she said. “There’s going to be no way out.”

At Laguna Beach High School, however, sentiment against the war eroded because of the Iraqi bombardment of Israel, and a student demonstration was called off.

“I think a lot of the students are confused now. The attack on Israel has really presented things in a new light and given them more things to think about,” said school principal Barbara Callard.

She added: “I talked to students who originally planned the protest. Their concern was for the soldiers, and yet they want peace, and they don’t know how to put that into a statement. They certainly don’t want to give the impression that they’re not supporting our troops.”

Sentiment has yet to be heard at Cal State Fullerton, which with 25,700 students is the largest four-year university in Orange County, because the university is on a mid-winter break until Feb. 4.

But the president of the student body said he firmly supports President Bush’s action.

“A necessary action had to be taken, quickly and decisively,” said Joe Ahn, 22, of Fullerton, president of Associated Students at Cal State Fullerton. “I think President Bush took that necessary action, after having tried through five months of diplomacy, for a peaceful solution. I support President Bush, and I think it’s time for all of us to get behind our President.”

Times staff writers Lily Eng, Matt Lait, Mark Landsbaum and Jim Newton contributed to this story.