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CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush said he had no regrets about donning a flight suit to give his "Mission Accomplished" speech on Iraq in May 2003 and would do it all over again if he had the chance, according to excerpts from an television interview released on Sunday.

When asked by Fox News if he still would have put on a flight suit to declare major combat operations in Iraq over, Bush replied, "Absolutely."

When Bush gave his May 1 speech fewer than 150 Americans had died in the war. Since then more than 900 have died.

The interview is to air on Fox's "The O'Reilly Factor" on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, just before Bush and Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry face off in their first televised debate on Thursday.

Amid a rising U.S. death toll and a rash of abductions and beheadings in Iraq, some members of Bush's own Republican Party have criticized him for not doing enough to secure insurgent areas in Iraq sooner.

But Bush said he also did not regret the decision to withdraw U.S. forces from the rebel stronghold of Falluja earlier this year because he believed the conflict there could have jeopardized the June handover of sovereignty to Iraqis.

"A lot of people on the ground there thought that if we'd have gone into Falluja at the time, the interim government would not have been established," Bush said.

Also in the interview, the president was noncommittal about whether his top political aide, Karl Rove, knew in advance about ads by the group, "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" which attacked Kerry's military service in Vietnam. Bush himself did not serve in Vietnam.

On the issue of whether he knew ahead of time about the Swift Boat ads, Bush said "no," but replied "I don't think so" when questioned whether Rove had advance knowledge of them.

The Swift Boat ads accused Kerry of lying about the events that led to his decoration for bravery. As a so-called 527 organization, the Swift Boat group is barred under election rules from coordinating its activities with campaigns or political parties.

Democrats has accused the Bush campaign of colluding with the group, a charge the White House has denied.

Response from Kerry:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle....I2AARECRBAEOCFEY?type=topNews&storyID=6335031

 

[Drensch]

This is the same guy who thinks Iraq and the Economy are great. He has no fucking clue.

 

[firex]

Admittedly, it could be because I don't want Bush to be re-elected, but I think Kerry has been really ripping into the Bush administration with some very apt accusations lately. Saying he's out of touch with the rest of America, makes bad decisions and empty promises. But the Bush administration fires back whenever they can, saying Kerry's just inventing another stance (which is generally accurate with regard to Kerry's vote on the Iraq war).

I actually think Kerry comes across as much stronger on defense and security than Bush does, just because he gives more concrete answers than the Bush administration does. But then again, after he announced his plan to handle the Iraq war if elected, the Bush administration said they were using the same plan. I think more and more, whoever wins, we lose. We just lose less with Kerry than Bush.

 

[Hitokage]

(which is generally accurate with regard to Kerry's vote on the Iraq war).

On Letterman Kerry said exactly why he voted the way he did, and it is entirely consistent with his current AND past statements.

 

[ManDudeChild]

On Letterman Kerry said exactly why he voted the way he did, and it is entirely consistent with his current AND past statements.

What was his explanation?

 

[Makura]

Why would Bush retract? Bahgdad had been taken and the country was in our control and we haven't lost control of the country since. Saddams forces no longer controlled the country, Saddam was later captured, the interim gov. installed and Iraqi forces have begun to train. Mission accomplished? Yes.

 

[DarienA]

Why would Bush retract? Bahgdad had been taken and the country was in our control and we haven't lost control of the country since. Saddams forces no longer controlled the country, Saddam was later captured, the interim gov. installed and Iraqi forces have begun to train. Mission accomplished? Yes.

Did all our troops come home? Have combat operations ceased? Oh wait... that's all part of the AFTER-war plan... which Bush didn't have in the first place...

 

[demon]

Why would Bush retract? Bahgdad had been taken and the country was in our control and we haven't lost control of the country since. Saddams forces no longer controlled the country, Saddam was later captured, the interim gov. installed and Iraqi forces have begun to train. Mission accomplished? Yes.

I thought the mission was to rid Iraq or weapons of mass destruction? I guess they did accomplish their mission then. o wait

 

[firex]

On Letterman Kerry said exactly why he voted the way he did, and it is entirely consistent with his current AND past statements.

I might be too cynical to believe his explanation, to be honest.

and Makura, I'd just say "don't count all your chickens before they've hatched" to say why I think Bush was wrong to do his "Mission Accomplished" stuff.

 

[Vennt]

I thought the mission was to rid Iraq or weapons of mass destruction? I guess they did accomplish their mission then. o wait

Surely everyone knows by now the only WMD's in Iraq were weapons of mass distraction

 

[Error Macro]

I wholeheartedly believe it was wrong for Bush to declare any sort of finality, to any aspect of the Iraqi war. And I'm a Republican. Hey, how about that.

 

[xsarien]

Why would Bush retract? Bahgdad had been taken and the country was in our control and we haven't lost control of the country since. Saddams forces no longer controlled the country, Saddam was later captured, the interim gov. installed and Iraqi forces have begun to train. Mission accomplished? Yes.

I find it absolutely fascinating that two people can pay attention to (presumably) the same news, and come to two vastly different conclusions.

No, seriously. Take the exact opposite of what you're saying, and that's my opinion on it all.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Bush is right on. The mission was to fuck up Iraq, instill fear in the general american public and distract people from the shitty economy. Mission Accomplished indeed.

Well played.

 

[DarienA]

I find it absolutely fascinating that two people can pay attention to (presumably) the same news, and come to two vastly different conclusions.

It's the only explanation for why the presidential race is as close as it is.... well that and Wizard's First Rule.

 

[Minotauro]

The number 1 doctrine of the Bush Administration: NEVER admit error.

 

[G4life98]

I think he is so out of touch with reality he does not realize how fucked up the whole iraq situation is

 

[Dilbert]

Why would Bush retract? Bahgdad had been taken and the country was in our control and we haven't lost control of the country since.

Exactly in what way do you think Iraq is "under control?"

 

[Error Macro]

I think he is so out of touch with reality he does not realize how fucked up the whole iraq situation is

Oh, I think they know. Absolutely. They just can't seem to come to grips with possibly admitting error. That seems far too risky so soon before the election. I believe that any politician would do the same; that is, to hold to what you think gives you the best popular image, given the situation. I can't recall in the not-so-distant history, any president acknowledging a major mistake except for Reagan.

 

[videogamer]

Oh, I think they know. Absolutely. They just can't seem to come to grips with possibly admitting error. That seems far too risky so soon before the election. I believe that any politician would do the same; that is, to hold to what you think gives you the best popular image, given the situation. I can't recall in the not-so-distant history, any president acknowledging a major mistake except for Reagan.

IIRC, Clinton apologized for the Lewinsky business. That scandal was a pretty big deal back in the day. Many people regarded it as one of Clinton's big mistakes. In any case, apologizing probably helped him too.

 

[duderon]

The number 1 doctrine of the Bush Administration: NEVER admit error.

Exactly right. The bush administration will never admit they are wrong about anything. This would ruin bush's "steadfast" image. It's really sad that people cannot see through this, and they will vote for george bush because they believe "he's strong on security". I just can't believe he has such a great chance at being re-elected and i wish people would pay attention to how the bush administration is manipulating the public.

I think he is so out of touch with reality he does not realize how fucked up the whole iraq situation is

He might not know what the hell is going on, but the people behind him do. They will never admit they were wrong. If a nuclear bomb went off in Iraq it would still be "Mission Accomplished".

 

[scorcho]

IIRC, Clinton apologized for the Lewinsky business. That scandal was a pretty big deal back in the day. Many people regarded it as one of Clinton's big mistakes. In any case, apologizing probably helped him too.

it's different apologizing for a marital affair (which should've been kept within the private sphere anyhow) than for a disastrous foreign policy maneuver. bush can't apologize simply because it's too much fodder for Kerry to use against him. then again staying so resolute gives a perception of blissful, idiotic arrogance.

clinton apologized and got some decent oral out of it. bush apologizes and he'll get raped by Kerry and every liberal from here to Germany.

 

[Jim Bowie]

He might not know what the hell is going on, but the people behind him do. They will never admit they were wrong. If a nuclear bomb went off in Iraq it would still be "Mission Accomplished".

Then we'd attack N. Korea for launching it at Iraq to kill Americans. Or China. Or Saudi Arabia. Or Sudan. Or France.

 

[videogamer]

it's different apologizing for a marital affair (which should've been kept within the private sphere anyhow) than for a disastrous foreign policy maneuver. bush can't apologize simply because it's too much fodder for Kerry to use against him. then again staying so resolute gives a perception of blissful, idiotic arrogance.

clinton apologized and got some decent oral out of it. bush apologizes and he'll get raped by Kerry and every liberal from here to Germany.

Uh remember how big of a deal the Lewinsky affair was? Conservatives bashed him for it, and it in a way lead to his impeachment.

Personally, if Bush apologized and started to fix up what he did, I wouldn't dislike him as much.

 

[scorcho]

Uh remember how big of a deal the Lewinsky affair was? Conservatives bashed him for it, and it in a way lead to his impeachment.

Personally, if Bush apologized and started to fix up what he did, I wouldn't dislike him as much.

if i remember correctly, Lewinsky did not happen during an election year, and Mr. Electric Dynamo himself Bob Dole did not run on a platform advocating that he would never receive a blowjob, ever.

i'm sure Bush is an arrogant enough guy to believe that Iraq was the right decision all along, after all, he's a born-again neoconservative. even if he had misgivings though, apologizing for it is akin to giving Kerry the keys to the White House now.

 

[videogamer]

if i remember correctly, Lewinsky did not happen during an election year, and Mr. Electric Dynamo himself Bob Dole did not run on a platform advocating that he would never receive a blowjob, ever.

i'm sure Bush is an arrogant enough guy to believe that Iraq was the right decision all along, after all, he's a born-again neoconservative. even if he had misgivings though, apologizing for it is akin to giving Kerry the keys to the White House now.

Well, the post that I was responding to:

"I can't recall in the not-so-distant history, any president acknowledging a major mistake except for Reagan."

Really, this hasn't anything to do with political calculations, but rather any president "acknowledging a major mistake". Those are pretty broad terms.

 

[scorcho]

Really, this hasn't anything to do with political calculations, but rather any president "acknowledging a major mistake". Those are pretty broad terms.

but acknowledging any mistake personally will open a president up to a political attack. let subordinates state that situations are murkier than forecasted and soak up the arrogance. it has to be directly tied to political calculations. clinton apologizing did nothing to harm him as it wasn't a policy issue.

 

[Triumph]

Man, Bush refuses to apologize or admit error on ANYTHING he's done. Some journalist should get smart and ask him if he regrets some other stuff...

Journalist: "So let me get this right, you don't have any regrets about the mission accomplished speech, the decision to go to war with Iraq or the fact that Osama bin Laden is at large?"

Bush: "That's right."

Journalist: "Do you also not regret getting a DUI and being an alcholic earlier in your life?"

Bush: "I'm the President. I don't have regrets. I have convictions that I am right. One fish two fish, red fish blue fish. Say, wanna play jacks with me?"

Rove: "This press conference is over!"

 

[DarienA]

Would Carter apologize for the failed Iranian hostage rescue attempt qualify?

 

[DCharlie]

"Exactly right. The bush administration will never admit they are wrong about anything. "

it's amazing that this is seen as a strength.

 

[Journeywalker]

I'm reminded of a quote by Paul Bremer III, former Iraq overseer, in June 2003, "This is going to be a long, difficult job. It's going to take a lot of patience. We will make mistakes. But as we make them, hopefully,we'll learn from them and adjust." With that to set the context, I wish Bush would answer the question, "Have you made any mistakes in your presidency, and, if so, what have you learned and how have you adjusted?"

 

[FightyF]

I don't care if he's willing to admit that he's made a "mistake", because I don't see this as a mistake.

It was a calculated plan on his Admistration's part, and they went through with it. Where is the mistake in all of this?

Using "faulty intelligence"? We all knew it was faulty since day 1, if you've seen the interviews with American intelligence and scientists prior to the invasion. Sure, ok, perhaps you don't believe them. Then consider this...Ever since the UN inspectors went to all the sites the US intelligence community recommended, and didn't find anything, it was clear that the intelligence was wrong. All this was established before the invasion.

We know now that Bush was prepared to invade even if they didn't have any WMDs...so again, there wasn't any mistake made...this was part of the plan to begin with.

 

[xsarien]

We know now that Bush was prepared to invade even if they didn't have any WMDs...so again, there wasn't any mistake made...this was part of the plan to begin with.

So you admit the administration lied about the WMDs? About Saddam being a clear, imminient threat to the United States?

 

[Cool]

This whole thing is bullshit. I'm beginning to think that Bush's plan all along was just to go down in history as a legend (a war legend, maybe to fill the void of not doing jackshit in Vietnam when he had the chance to be one). He invaded multiple countries in office in one fucking term. He doesn't seem to have anything planned out. Mission Accomplished? What mission? To kill a bunch of innocent civilians and randomly find Saddam? Fuck man, I'm tired of this shit. If you're of voting age, please vote for Kerry this November.

 

[element]

I just find it shocking that we invade Iraq, because they harbor terrorist, yet we 'love' Saudi Arabia, yet that is where most of the beheadings are actually taking place, so they are harboring terrorist. And Osama, who started this whole mess, is running around the mountains making Al Qaeda stronger.

Go USA! I'm happy I'm Canadian.

Oh yeah, then we ignore things like Africa, unemployment, and other more serious issues.

 

[Tazznum1]

What is all this "we" stuff that you include yourself in and your Canadian?

 

[Cool]

What is all this "we" stuff that you include yourself in and your Canadian?

I was sort of thinking the same thing.

 

[element]

What is all this "we" stuff that you include yourself in and your Canadian?

im duel actually.

 

[Makura]

dual ;P

 

[Tazznum1]

On Guard!!!!

Oh, you meant you have both. So you're bi.

 

[FightyF]

So you admit the administration lied about the WMDs? About Saddam being a clear, imminient threat to the United States?

Obviously. His goal was attained...so no mistakes were made.

Did he do something wrong? Unethical? Yes, there's no doubt. The question posed to him should be "Do you feel bad for lying to the American public?". If he claims it was based on bad intelligence, a simple retort could be "So when Hans Blix concluded that there were no weapons of mass destruction, what kind of evidence did you consider that?"

 

[element]

haha, man my spelling is off today

yeah, I have dual citizenship, but have always lived in the US.

 

[Eric-GCA]

So you admit the administration lied about the WMDs? About Saddam being a clear, imminient threat to the United States?

Uh, I don't think FoF is a defender of the Administration here...

 

[MrAngryFace]

ECONOMY IS GREAT EVERYONE IS EITHER REALLY POOR OR REALLY RICH! GOD BLESS AMERIcA!!!! EVERY POOR PERSON HAS A SHIT JOB!!!!!!!!

 

[Tazznum1]

<----------No medical coverage.