Bush defends presidency
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 13, 2009 00:00
WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush mounted a defiant and emotional defense of his "good, strong record" yesterday, rejecting criticism of his "war on terror" tactics and policy in Iraq and on the economy.
In his last formal news conference before ceding power to Barack Obama on Jan. 20, Bush highlighted the "troop surge" in Iraq and his efforts to rescue the U.S. economy as it slumped into the worst recession since the 1930s.
He warned that Iran and N. Korea, which he famously included in an "axis of evil" were still dangerous and said Obama still faced the grave threat of an attack on the U.S. homeland. Bush, who presided over two wars, which tested U.S. ties with close allies, said he had never spent much time worrying about the "loud voices" of critics, adding that President-elect Obama would also face "harsh" criticism.
He did not dwell on the decision to invade Iraq, but said the surge was an example of how he had responded to events while in office. "When the history of Iraq is written, historians will analyze for example the decision on the surge," he said remembering the rising tide of violence at the time in Iraq.
Bush used the news conference to warn Hamas that it must halt rocket fire on Israel if there is to be a durable cease-fire in Gaza. "I am for a sustainable cease-fire. And a definition of a sustainable cease-fire is that Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel," the U.S. leader told what is likely to be his final press conference. "I happen to believe the choice is Hamas's to make."
He also warned that Obama would have to face up to the fact that America's terrorist foes would like to attack again, more than seven years after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.
"The most urgent threat he will have to deal with, and other presidents after him have got to deal with, is an attack on our homeland," Bush told what is likely to be his final press conference.
He warned that Iran and N. Korea, which he famously included in an "axis of evil" were still dangerous and said Obama still faced the grave threat of an attack on the U.S. homeland. Bush, who presided over two wars, which tested U.S. ties with close allies, said he had never spent much time worrying about the "loud voices" of critics, adding that President-elect Obama would also face "harsh" criticism.
He did not dwell on the decision to invade Iraq, but said the surge was an example of how he had responded to events while in office. "When the history of Iraq is written, historians will analyze for example the decision on the surge," he said remembering the rising tide of violence at the time in Iraq.
Bush used the news conference to warn Hamas that it must halt rocket fire on Israel if there is to be a durable cease-fire in Gaza. "I am for a sustainable cease-fire. And a definition of a sustainable cease-fire is that Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel," the U.S. leader told what is likely to be his final press conference. "I happen to believe the choice is Hamas's to make."
He also warned that Obama would have to face up to the fact that America's terrorist foes would like to attack again, more than seven years after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.
"The most urgent threat he will have to deal with, and other presidents after him have got to deal with, is an attack on our homeland," Bush told what is likely to be his final press conference.