Bush Iraq, terrorism policies keeping US safe

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug 31 (Reuters) President George W Bush, seeking to fend off growing election-year discontent with the Iraq war, said today his wars in Iraq and against terrorism were keeping Americans safe.

Bush, whose Republican party is fighting to keep control of Congress in November elections, took on his political critics in launching a new campaign to promote his security policies before the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

''If America were to pull out before Iraq could defend itself, the consequences would be absolutely predictable and absolutely disastrous. We would be handing Iraq over to our worst enemies,'' Bush told veterans at the annual American Legion convention.

''They would have a new sanctuary to recruit and train terrorists at the heart of the West Asia, with huge oil riches to fund their ambitions,'' Bush said.

He said terrorist groups such as al Qaeda and Hizbollah were part of one movement that wanted to prevent democracy from taking hold in the West Asia.

''Some politicians look at our efforts in Iraq and see a diversion from the war on terror,'' Bush said, but added that this was wrong. ''We should all agree that the battle for Iraq is now central to the ideological struggle of the 21st century.'' Democrats who are hoping to capture at least one house of Congress in November say Bush's conduct of the wars against Iraq and terrorism has failed. They have accused Republicans of using scare tactics on national security to try and win elections.

''The American people know that five years after September 11, we are not as safe as we should and could be,'' Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid said. ''Iraq is in crisis, our military is stretched thin, and terrorist groups and extremist regimes have been strengthened and emboldened across the West Asia and the world.'' Critics have urged Bush to bring home the 140,000 American troops from Iraq, where more than 2,600 US troops have died. No matter how well-intentioned, Bush said, ''they could not be more wrong.'' Bush has insisted troop levels would be determined by commanders on the ground and that the United States would not leave Iraq until it is able to manage its own security.

Sectarian violence has shown no signs of letting up in Iraq where roadside and suicide bombs continue to wreak havoc.

'SINGLE MOVEMENT' Bush said the United States must battle international terrorism networks by trying to spread democracy in the West Asia.

''Despite their differences, these groups form the outlines of a single movement -- a worldwide network of radicals that use terror to kill those who stand in the way of their totalitarian ideology,'' he said.

Bush portrayed Iran as a supporter of terrorism and warned Tehran that defying Thursday's UN deadline to halt sensitive nuclear work must entail consequences.

He said the September 11 attacks, in which 19 hijackers killed nearly 3,000 people, showed that calm in the Middle East was ''only a mirage'' and that a lack of freedom had made the region an ''incubator'' for terrorism.

''American policy in the West Asia comes down to a straightforward choice: we can allow the Middle East to continue on its course -- on the course it was headed before September the 11th -- and a generation from now, our children will face a region dominated by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with nuclear weapons,'' Bush said.

''Or we can stop that from happening by rallying the world to confront the ideology of hate and give the people of the West Asia a future of hope. And that is the choice America has made,'' he said.

Bush has been traveling to raise money for Republican candidates and spoke at a fund-raiser for Sen Orrin Hatch of Utah today that was expected to raise about 0,000.

Reuters AB GC2344