Middle east Online, Conditions are: To measure level of stability in Iraq; outlook for stability to hold; Iraqi security forces’ ability to defend Iraq. WASHINGTON – Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said he would set three conditions for withdrawing US troops from Iraq if he were elected, and warned that President George W. Bush might cut troop numbers ahead of the November 2 vote. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Kerry said the conditions were “to measure the level of stability” in Iraq, “to measure the outlook for the stability to hold” and “to measure the ability … of their security forces” to defend Iraq.

Until each condition is satisfied, Kerry said, “I will provide for the world’s need not to have a failed state in Iraq.”

Kerry, who will be formally picked to run for the White House at the Democratic National Convention in Boston August 26-29, has been calling for more international involvement in Iraq, but has refrained from advocating a withdrawal of all the 140,000 US troops.

However, he told the Journal aboard his campaign plane that “at the end of my first term I would consider it a failure of my diplomacy if we haven’t reduced the number significantly.”

“I certainly can’t tell you numbers,” he added. “The key at this point is to have a stable, non-failed state that is moving toward democracy and has security sufficient for the government to stand on its own.”

Kerry said he had “heard (it) said by many people” that Bush might be preparing to withdraw some troops from Iraq before the election, adding that he was prepared for anything.

“I’d put nothing past them,” he added, referring to the White House.

A White House spokeswoman quoted by the daily ruled out the possibility.

“The troop levels in Iraq have always been guided by what commanders in the field have said is necessary to accomplish the mission,” said Suzy DeFrancis. “No other factor would enter into it.”

In his interview, the daily said Kerry did not explain his criteria for measuring conditions in Iraq or provide estimates of troop drawdowns.

“I’m not going to negotiate my plan in the newspapers. But I will get there in ways that this president can’t because he has burned the bridges of credibility and burned the alliances. They need to be re-established with … a new president.”

He said he was also prepared to boost troop strength in the near term if Iraqi security required it, adding that he would consult with military commanders to determine the increment.

“I know how to do that,” said the Vietnam veteran. “I think I’ll do that more effectively than this president, and I’ll … listen to them with greater respect than this president and this secretary of defense did.”