U.S. President George W. Bush said Monday any reduction in U.S. 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 U.S. 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.