President Bush's 'biggest regret': I was unprepared for war

**min0 lee** · 12-02-2008, 04:21 PM

President Bush's 'biggest regret': I was unprepared for war
BY RICHARD SISK
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

Tuesday, December 2nd 2008, 12:50 AM

WASHINGTON - President Bush issued a stunningly candid critique of mistakes on his watch Monday night, saying he was "unprepared" for the 9/11 attacks and calling the flawed case for war in Iraq his "biggest regret."

"That's a do-over that I can't do," Bush said of his decision to attack Iraq based on the faulty intelligence that dictator Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

"I wish the intelligence had been different, I guess," Bush said in a joint interview with First Lady Laura Bush on ABC's "World News With Charles Gibson."

Members of Congress from both parties and the spy agencies of other nations also concluded that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, but "the biggest regret of all" in his term as commander in chief Bush said, "has to have been the intelligence failure in Iraq."

GOP strategists have argued that toppling Saddam was worth going to war whether or not Iraq had nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, but Bush said he wasn't sure.

"You know, that's an interesting question," Bush said when asked what he would have done ifhe had known the intel was bogus. "It's hard for me to speculate."

Bush said he never expected to be a wartime President. Despite briefings warning that Al Qaeda was ready to strike in the summer of 2001, Bush said, "I think I was unprepared for war" when the planes hit the towers on 9/11.

"In other words, I didn't campaign and say, 'Please vote for me; I'll be able to handle an attack,'" Bush said. "In other words, I didn't anticipate war. Presidents - one of the things about the modern presidency is that the unexpected will happen."

Asked if Barack Obama's election was a voters' verdict on him, Bush said, "I think it was a repudiation of Republicans.

"And I'm sure some people voted for Barack Obama because of me," he continued. "I think most people voted for Barack Obama because they decided they wanted him to be in their living room for the next four years explaining policy."

Bush professed to be unconcerned about his approval ratings hitting historic lows, or about what historians will write.

"I will leave the presidency with my head held high," Bush said, but he also regretted his failure to curb the bitter partisanship that has prevailed in Washington.

"Frankly, it just didn't work as well as I'd like to have it work," he said.

Bush said he was thinking about writing a book when he gets back to Texas and will also be sorting out what he intends to do with the rest of his life.

"The thing that's important for me is to get home and look in that mirror and say, 'I did not compromise my principles,'" he said. "And I didn't. I made tough calls. And some presidencies have got a lot of tough decisions to make."

As for the eventual verdict of the American people on his eight years in the Oval Office, Bush said, "I don't know. I hope they feel that this is a guy that came, didn't sell his soul for politics, had to make some tough decisions and did so in a principled way."

Laura Bush was more upbeat: "I think they think he's somebody that kept them safe for eight years. And I think - and I hear that all the time, people thanking me, telling me to thank him."

rsisk@nydailynews.com

**min0 lee** · 12-02-2008, 04:22 PM

ABC News

**Prince** · 12-02-2008, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

As for the eventual verdict of the American people on his eight years in the Oval Office, Bush said, "I don't know. I hope they feel that this is a guy that came, didn't sell his soul for politics, had to make some tough decisions and did so in a principled way."

nope, just a guy that sold his soul for oil and money.

**IronAddict** · 12-02-2008, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by Prince

nope, just a guy that sold his soul for oil and money.

Bullshit! This was a man who wanted to go to war to better solidify his standing in history! He should be hung!

**Prince** · 12-02-2008, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by IronAddict

He should be hung!

I won't argue that.

**andyo** · 12-02-2008, 07:38 PM

Hmmm...he wanted to curb the partisan politics while he was there...what a bunch of shit. To do so you have to be willing to actually think and talk to the other side of the aisle. What a dumbass....good rittens

**busyLivin** · 12-02-2008, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by Prince

nope, just a guy that sold his soul for oil and money.

i thought the whole "blood for oil" fantasy argument died a while ago?

**busyLivin** · 12-02-2008, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by andyo

What a dumbass....good rittens

Irony anyone?

**Big Smoothy** · 12-02-2008, 08:55 PM

This is another admission by a man (GWB) who is truly an ignorant person who should have never had such a position with such great responsibility.

**Prince** · 12-02-2008, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

i thought the whole "blood for oil" fantasy argument died a while ago?

yeah, except that oil still runs the world.

**BoneCrusher** · 12-03-2008, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

i thought the whole "blood for oil" fantasy argument died a while ago?

You may have wished it so, but reality is always a pita to avoid. But hey ... at least now you can blame it all the Dem's like the rest of us will

**busyLivin** · 12-04-2008, 05:17 AM

Originally Posted by BoneCrusher

But hey ... at least now you can blame it all the Dem's like the rest of us will

As much as I'd love to... I'm trying to completely get out of politics. I haven't watched the news in weeks. I was driving with a friend last week & we went past a gas station where the gas was 1.69. He says (in all seriousness) "Wow, thanks Barack!"

Really blows my mind how stupid people are... but these are the people who vote & decide elections. The only thing being informed does is piss me off, so why bother? I'll vote party line, but I'm done caring about being in the 1% of the country that actually has a clue.

**Prince** · 12-04-2008, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

As much as I'd love to... I'm trying to completely get out of politics.

try taking it a bit less seriously.

**KelJu** · 12-04-2008, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

As much as I'd love to... I'm trying to completely get out of politics. I haven't watched the news in weeks. I was driving with a friend last week & we went past a gas station where the gas was 1.69. He says (in all seriousness) "Wow, thanks Barack!"

Really blows my mind how stupid people are... but these are the people who vote & decide elections. The only thing being informed does is piss me off, so why bother? I'll vote party line, but I'm done caring about being in the 1% of the country that actually has a clue.

Information is a tool. It can be useless, but often times dangerous when used by people who have an agenda with no integrity.

You said it yourself. You would vote the party line even if you stopped taking in new information. That is a pretty dangerous philosophy. It is that philosophy that put the worst president in the history of this nation in office and kept him there for 8 years.

Saying you will vote for a person before even getting the facts is about is pretty terrible. It is the same as all the black people voting for Obama because he was black. Did it ever occur to you that you and they are in the same category?

**IronAddict** · 12-04-2008, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by KelJu

Information is a tool. It can be useless, but often times dangerous when used by people who have an agenda with no integrity.

You said it yourself. You would vote the party line even if you stopped taking in new information. That is a pretty dangerous philosophy. It is that philosophy that put the worst president in the history of this nation in office and kept him there for 8 years.

Saying you will vote for a person before even getting the facts is about is pretty terrible. It is the same as all the black people voting for Obama because he was black. Did it ever occur to you that you and they are in the same category?

Bravo my good man, bravo!

**busyLivin** · 12-04-2008, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by KelJu

Saying you will vote for a person before even getting the facts is about is pretty terrible. It is the same as all the black people voting for Obama because he was black. Did it ever occur to you that you and they are in the same category?

Apples & oranges, KelJu.

I'm not voting for a Republican because of their race, gender, orientation, etc. I've said several times I'm not so much pro-Republican as I am anti-Democrat. If a third party rose, I'd consider their candidate. However, today we have two choices: Democrat & Republican. I will NEVER vote for a Democrat, so my choice is clear. If I vote for a Democrat locally, he empowers Democrat at the federal level. Even a "conservative Democrat" is going to vote party line a majority of the time (he really has no choice.. e.g. Joe Lieberman), so I see no option that to try to vote them out of power.

It's not an uneducated, color blind vote like a majority of the black vote.

BTW... correction: I will check a Republican's abortion stance before voting for him.

**maniclion** · 12-04-2008, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Prince

yeah, except that oil still runs the world.

And the fact that Afghanistan and Iraq are perfect strategic lands for routing of pipelines, we shouldn't kid ourselves into thinking we invaded those places just to liberate them nor to punish them for 9/11. Even Russias latest run on Georgia was about land perfect for a pipeline route. And the first Gulf War was not for saving our Kuwaiti Friends it was because Saddam was lighting oil fields ablaze. if we'd have wanted to protect Kuwait we would have finished the job and conquered Iraq back then......

**busyLivin** · 12-04-2008, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by maniclion

And the fact that Afghanistan and Iraq are perfect strategic lands for routing of pipelines, we shouldn't kid ourselves into thinking we invaded those places just to liberate them nor to punish them for 9/11. Even Russias latest run on Georgia was about land perfect for a pipeline route. And the first Gulf War was not for saving our Kuwaiti Friends it was because Saddam was lighting oil fields ablaze. if we'd have wanted to protect Kuwait we would have finished the job and conquered Iraq back then......

Oh please... the world would shut down without oil. It needs to be protected. Maybe one day we will live off electricity from wind, cow shit & mice running on wheels, but that day isn't today.

As far as the Iraq war.. you can theorize all you want, but the argument goes back to the collective intelligence pointing to them having WMDs. He didn't want to roll the dice after what just happened on 9/11. The war had over 80% American approval at the start. It went bad, and suddenly Bush is a liar.

**IronAddict** · 12-04-2008, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

Oh please... the world would shut down without oil. It needs to be protected. Maybe one day we will live off electricity from wind, cow shit & mice running on wheels, but that day isn't today.

As far as the Iraq war.. you can theorize all you want, but the argument goes back to the collective intelligence pointing to them having WMDs. He didn't want to roll the dice after what just happened on 9/11. The war had over 80% American approval at the start. It went bad, and suddenly Bush is a liar.

No, the world would not shut down. That is just something the Republicans say so guy's like you would repeat them.No matter how many times or with conviction you tell a lie, doesn't make it true. Maybe you should watch the news and see the state the Rep. have this counrty in. How can you argue this?

This whole war in Iraq was a lie! The intell was manipulated to fit their agenda. Just how these guy's are now trying to manipulate history...Oh, I forgot you just said you don't watch the news.

**Fetusaurus Rex** · 12-04-2008, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by IronAddict

No, the world would not shut down. That is just something the Republicans say so guy's like you would repeat them.No matter how many times or with conviction you tell a lie, doesn't make it true. Maybe you should watch the news and see the state the Rep. have this counrty in. How can you argue this?

This whole war in Iraq was a lie! The intell was manipulated to fit their agenda. Just how these guy's are now trying to manipulate history...Oh, I forgot you just said you don't watch the news.

+1

**busyLivin** · 12-04-2008, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by IronAddict

No, the world would not shut down. That is just something the Republicans say so guy's like you would repeat them.No matter how many times or with conviction you tell a lie, doesn't make it true.

Give me a plausible scenario of what would happen if we suddenly had no oil tomorrow. I would love to hear this.

**busyLivin** · 12-04-2008, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by Fetusaurus Rex

+1

-1

whatever that means.

**KelJu** · 12-04-2008, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

Give me a plausible scenario of what would happen if we suddenly had no oil tomorrow. I would love to hear this.

People would be inconvenienced at most. You act like humans require oil to survive. As humans, we adapt very quickly. We are smart and capable creatures.

**IronAddict** · 12-04-2008, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

Give me a plausible scenario of what would happen if we suddenly had no oil tomorrow. I would love to hear this.

Well, If our damn politicians, of both parties, plenty of blame to go around on this subject. Got off the oil Co.'s teat, and started to develop alternative sources of fuel and energy we would be fine... Your oil arguement is false, a better place to fuel your rage would be to ask why these oil Co.'s in Alaska and off the Gulf coast Export that oil when they can just keep it here,and we would not be dealing with those people in the middle East. Our supposed enemies... Because someone thought the people of this country would go along with their perpetual wars...To make the rich richer, and the poor poorer.

**busyLivin** · 12-04-2008, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by KelJu

People would be inconvenienced at most. You act like humans require oil to survive. As humans, we adapt very quickly. We are smart and capable creatures.

Let me get this right... no heat, to transportation to work & to distribute food, no electricity to cook food... just an inconvenience? Those are only 3 examples...

Adapt quickly? C'mon.. we all want alternative energy, it just isn't happening overnight. Oil is a necessity right now. Denying that is just simply not understanding that.

**maniclion** · 12-04-2008, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

Oh please... the world would shut down without oil. It needs to be protected. Maybe one day we will live off electricity from wind, cow shit & mice running on wheels, but that day isn't today.

Protected or Subjugated, everyone of Bush's little crew had Big Oil ties they just want their grubby hands on the oil sooner so they can reap the profits at every point of production, fuck paying some Afghani or Iraqi trucker to haul it to the ports we'll just pump it straight across to the mediteranean or around Iran to Kuwait, America needs her fix now!!!!!!

**busyLivin** · 12-04-2008, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by IronAddict

Well, If our damn politicians, of both parties, plenty of blame to go around on this subject. Got off the oil Co.'s teat, and started to develop alternative sources of fuel and energy we would be fine... Your oil arguement is false, a better place to fuel your rage would be to ask why these oil Co.'s in Alaska and off the Gulf coast Export that oil when they can just keep it here,and we would not be dealing with those people in the middle East. Our supposed enemies... Because someone thought the people of this country would go along with their perpetual wars...To make the rich richer, and the poor poorer.

We don't disagree, but how is my argument false? I want off of oil as much as you, but it's not happening overnight. Politicians on both sides are to blame, absolutely. That doesn't negate the fact that our economy & livelihood run on oil RIGHT NOW.

We don't even know what the next energy source will be, which is why we see every politician offering incentives for people to find it. To all of a sudden lose oil & have no direction where to get energy from next would be a castastrophe, not an inconvenience.

**IronAddict** · 12-04-2008, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by busyLivin

We don't disagree, but how is my argument false? I want off of oil as much as you, but it's not happening overnight. Politicians on both sides are to blame, absolutely. That doesn't negate the fact that our economy & livelihood run on oil RIGHT NOW.

We don't even know what the next energy source will be, which is why we see every politician offering incentives for people to find it. To all of a sudden lose oil & have no direction where to get energy from next would be a castastrophe, not an inconvenience.

That's good, we found a common ground...

No need to argue.

Yes this is true. We run on oil, but I will say that these technologies should have been developed twenty years ago...We have many options, solar, wind those are very good starting points...My God, we went to the moon 40 years ago and what supplied the power for that? (in space I mean)Don't forget our little jaunt to Mars
with our cool little sojourner?

Our politicians are sell outs to these oil Co's. You need to look no further than Dick Cheney and George Bush...Oh yeah, our VP and Prez... They have young people dying in Iraq based on a lie, just so they can make the killing!

**IronAddict** · 12-04-2008, 03:39 PM

Originally Posted by maniclion

Protected or Subjugated, everyone of Bush's little crew had Big Oil ties they just want their grubby hands on the oil sooner so they can reap the profits at every point of production, fuck paying some Afghani or Iraqi trucker to haul it to the ports we'll just pump it straight across to the mediteranean or around Iran to Kuwait, America needs her fix now!!!!!!

Exactly right! And the first thing we did after ousting the Taliban from Afghanistan. Was to instill a puppet regime under Hamed Karzei,who by the way was a ceo of Exxon, to tap into natural gas and run a pipeline from the Caspian sea.... In the meantime the Taliban have reemerged in Afghanistan to larger than prewar numbers.

**bio-chem** · 12-04-2008, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by KelJu

People would be inconvenienced at most.

Um. i think you are out of your damn mind to think this. If we all of a sudden did not have oil tomorrow it would be much more than an inconvenience. we can not supply the needed electricity without it. so your computer is done. banking stops. you don't have access to money. basic food stuffs will no longer be available to the populace. i hope you have food storage and candles.

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