FORMER president of America George Bush has accidentally condemned the “unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq” - a war he initiated.
Speaking at an event at the presidential centre in Dallas on Wednesday, the 43rd president of the US heard laughs from the audience as he made the gaffe.
Bush called out the "unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq" before quickly correcting himself, saying “I mean Ukraine” as he blamed the mistake on his age.
But the Republican politician added just seconds later under his breath, "Iraq, too".
Former President George W. Bush: “The decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq. I mean of Ukraine.” pic.twitter.com/UMwNMwMnmX
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) May 19, 2022
The Republican politician was talking about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine when he accidentally denounced the war he started as president in 2003.
Bush said: “Russian elections are rigged. Political opponents are imprisoned or otherwise eliminated from participating in the electoral process.
“The result is an absence of checks and balances in Russia and the decision of one man to launch a holy unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq. I mean of Ukraine.”
Bush shrugged, before adding, “Iraq too,” before blaming the faux pas on his age, adding, “Anyway I’m 75”.
The former president led the invasion of Iraq, along with Tony Blair in the UK, which sought to overthrow dictator Saddam Hussein.
More than 122,000 civilians are reported to have been killed during the ten-year war.
Some 4431 American and 179 British troops also died as a result of the invasion of the middle-eastern country.
Bush's comments sparked criticism online, with former US state senator Nina Turner tweeting: “George W Bush is a war criminal.”
George W. Bush is a war criminal.
— Nina Turner (@ninaturner) May 19, 2022
Writer George Monbiot added: "George Bush accidentally confessing the truth, 19 years on."
During his speech, Bush also described Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky as a “cool little guy” as he compared him to former British prime minister Winston Churchill.
He said: “The way countries conduct elections is indicative of how their leaders treat their own people, and how nations behave toward other nations.
“And nowhere is this on display more clearly than Ukraine.”
