While acknowledging the growing US casualties in Iraq, US President George W. Bush on Thursday ruled out the possibility of any near-term American pullout from Iraq.

Speaking at the Pentagon after being briefed by top US generals in Iraq, Bush claimed that withdrawing US troops will "make the world more dangerous."

He explained that a pullout will encourage terror masterminds like Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Osama bin Laden to dominate the Middle East and launch more attacks on the United States and its allies.
 
Any retreat, Bush said, will only make the US adversaries believe the world's sole superpower lacks "the courage and character to defend ourselves."

"The only way the terrorists can win is if we lose our nerve and abandon the mission," he said.

Bush vowed that "for the safety and security of the American people, that's not going to happen on my watch."

To the over-1,900 Americans who died in Iraq in the aftermath of the "War Against Terror," the president said the only way to honor their sacrifice is to "complete the mission and winning the war on terror."

Bush also addressed the threat of Hurricane Rita, a monster hurricane expected to hit Texas over the weekend, and urged the nation to "prepare for the worst."

However, He said while his administration will make sufficient response to hurricane disaster, "our focus on defending our country remains undiminished."

Before delivering the speech, Bush received a briefing on terrorism by Gen. George Casey, the top US commander in Iraq, and Gen. John Abizaid, Commander of US Central Command, via video conference.

US Vice President Dick Cheney and other key cabinet members were also present.

(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2005)