Tue, January 13, 2009
US President Bush held his final news conference where he defended his record and offered some regrets.
Bush leaves office January 20th when US President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th American president.
President George W. Bush with just days left in office gave his final news conference where he defended his record on Iraq and the federal response to Hurricane Katrina while sharing some of his disappointments.
Bush was asked about America's moral standing in the world, rejecting criticism that the United States has lost its footing, by among other things launching a preemptive war in Iraq.
SOUNDBITE: President George W. Bush, saying (English):
"If you ask Africans about America, go to India and ask."
Bush also rejected claims that the federal government was slow to respond to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, one of the deadliest to strike American shores that left New Orleans a shell of its former self, laying the ground work for Democrats to take control of Congress in 2006.
SOUNDBITE: President George W. Bush, saying (English):
"Don't tell me the Federal response was slow when 30,000 people were pulled off the roofs."
And there were the regrets.
SOUNDBITE: President George W. Bush, saying (English):
"Abu Ghraib was a big disappointment, not having WMD."
Bush leaves office with the nation engaged in two wars, and the the economy in a recession. Bush's public support has fallen to record lows.
SOUNDBITE: President George W. Bush, saying (English):
"I think the phrase burdens of the office, are overdone. Or asking why me, why did the financial crisis hit me, it is just pathetic isn't it self pity."
As for the future. Bush was also asked about how he plans to make a transition from the Oval office back to being a private citizen.
SOUNDBITE: President George W. Bush, saying (English):
"I am a type A personality. I can't envision a big straw hat and a Hawaiian shirt sitting on a beach."
Bush leaves office January 20th when President elect Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th American president.
