Bush says no hasty decision on Iraq troop levels

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq, Sept 3 (Reuters) US President George W Bush said today any reduction in US troop numbers in Iraq would be based on calm military assessments and not the nervous reaction of politicians in Washington.

Bush was addressing troops on a visit to Iraq to meet US commander General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker for a final review of the war before a showdown in Congress over troop levels.

''Those decisions (on troop levels) will be based on a calm assessment by military commanders on conditions on the ground, not a nervous reaction by Washington politicians to poll results and the media,'' said Bush.

''In other words when we begin to draw down troops from Iraq it will be from a position of strength and success, not from a position of fear and failure.'' Bush said in his address at a US air base in Iraq's western Anbar province that to do otherwise would make it more likely the United States would be attacked at home.

He said US military efforts had turned Anbar province into a success story against insurgents.

''Anbar is a huge province. It was once written off as lost. It is now one of the safest places in Iraq,'' said Bush.

''You are denying al Qaeda a safe haven, from which you have to plot and plan and carry out attacks against the United States of America,'' he told the troops.

REUTERS PY KN2356