Should the U.S. leave Afghanistan too early, women's rights would be sharply curtailed and safe havens for terrorism will grow, former President George W. Bush warned Thursday.

The former president spoke to Fox News Thursday night to promote a U.S.-Afghan women's conference his foundation helped organize.



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"My concern, of course, is that the United States gets weary of being in Afghanistan and says, 'it's not worth it, let's leave,' " Bush said. "If that were to happen, women would suffer again, and we don't believe that's in the interests of the United States or the world to create safe havens for terrorists and stand by and watch women's rights be abused."

The 43rd president rarely speaks out on current events, but his advice comes as skepticism of the Afghanistan war on Capitol Hill appears to be growing, even within his own party.



The House this month defeated a resolution that would have demanded President Obama to remove U.S. troops from Afghanistan, but the measure gained much more support than a similar bill did in 2010. Eight Republicans voted for it.

Bush issued a rebuke to supporters of isolationism who want to withdraw from international engagement.



"Part of our objective is to remind people that isolationism will end up subjecting certain people to horrors that — I don't see how our country could live with that kind of decision," he said.

U.S. troops are expected to begin drawing down in July of this year, but administration officials have said it will come close to a full withdrawal.