"What we have begun, we will finish," he told 20,000 cheering Marines and family members on the sun-baked parade ground at this sprawling base. "A vise is closing, and the days of a brutal regime are coming to an end."

With US-led forces poised for a final push into Baghdad, Bush came here with First Lady Laura Bush to stoke the troops as well as to pay tribute to at least a dozen Marines from Camp Lejeune who have lost their lives in Iraq.

"The course is set. We're on the advance. Our destination is Baghdad, and we will accept nothing less than complete and final victory," said Bush, who was to meet privately with relatives of fallen soldiers.

"This is a time of hardship for many military families," he told the uniformed crowd. "All of America is grateful for your sacrifice. And Laura and I are here to thank each one of you."

Bush said the Iraqi populace was welcoming US forces as liberators while fleeing the iron grip of Saddam and his supporters, who "will be treated like war criminals" if they commit atrocities.

"The citizens of Iraq are coming to know what kind of people we have sent to liberate them. American forces and our allies are treating innocent civilians with kindness and showing proper respect to soldiers who surrender," he said.

The day-long trip was Bush's third outside the Washington area since the war on Iraq was launched with a March 19 "decapitating" strike at Saddam and top aides. All three have centered on speeches to military crowds.

Bush wore a gray suit and red tie, with a US flag pin shining from his lapel. On the packed parade ground, the thronged troops rolled up their sleeves to stay as cool as possible.

Some 17,500 troops from Camp Lejeune are deployed overseas, many in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The mammoth base takes its name from Major General John Lejeune, who commanded the Second Army Division in World War I.

SPACE.WIRE