Agence France-Presse
FORT BRAGG, North Carolina - President George W. Bush warned Thursday that a premature US military withdrawal from Iraq would be "catastrophic for our country", strengthen Al-Qaeda and embolden Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Bush said security had improved enough in Iraq to justify an ongoing drawdown that would see troop levels reduced by 25 percent from last year, but he gave no indication whether he supported even further troop reductions as General David Petraeus has indicated could take place.
Earlier Thursday Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, told Congress he expects to be able to recommend further cuts in US forces in Iraq before he leaves his post in September.
Bush said he remained adamant that US troops continue their "war on terror" to prevent renewed September 11, 2001-style attacks on US soil.
"Withdrawal before success would send a signal to terrorists and extremists across the world that America is weak and does not have the stomach for a long fight," he told thousands of army paratroopers recently returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina from 15-month tours in Iraq.
"Withdrawal before success would be catastrophic for our country. It would be more likely that we would suffer another attack, like the one we experienced on September the 11th," he added.
"It would jeopardize the safety of future generations and we must not and we will not allow that to happen."
He also warned that withdrawal "would embolden Iran and its nuclear weapons ambitions and its efforts to dominate the region."
Bush said his top generals have told him that security conditions have improved sufficiently in Iraq to return, by the end of July, to the pre-surge level of 15 combat brigade teams. Three of five surge brigades have already returned.
"Two more brigades will follow in the months ahead," Bush said. "When we complete this drawdown we will have reduced our combat brigades in Iraq by 25 percent from the year before."