"Sometimes people read what they want to in the president's words," Bush said in an exclusive interview with ABC. "My statement was, in essence, this: If Gen. (David) Petraeus needs 45 days, he'll have 45 days."

In a speech on Iraq Thursday, Bush said Petraeus could "have all the time he needs" to evaluate and assess troop levels in Iraq. The current drawdown ends in July, after which Petraeus recommended -- and Bush endorsed -- a 45-day period of "consolidation and evaluation" followed by an assessment of the situation to determine when reductions could resume.

War critics, including both Democratic presidential contenders Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York, interpreted Bush's statement to mean the Republican president would not be drawing down forces in Iraq anytime soon.

"I don't know" another withdrawal could occur, Bush said from his ranch in Crawford, Texas. "But on the other hand, I did say that my hope is that conditions will enable us to continue return on success."