“There’s more than one front in this war against these radicals and extremists,” Bush said in an address in West Virginia. “And, obviously, the toughest threat of all is in Iraq.”

The president again defended his troop surge plan, saying it is “essential to the security” of the U.S.

“If we were to quit Iraq before the job is done, the terrorists we are fighting would not declare victory and lay down their arms - they would follow us here, home,” he stated, adding, “However difficult the fight is in Iraq, we must win it - we must succeed for our own sake; for the security of our citizens, we must support our troops, we must support the Iraqi government, and we must defeat al Qaeda in Iraq.”