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Regrets? Too few to mention, says Bush
Paul Thompson in Miami16.01.09
President Bush last night delivered an impassioned defence of his eight years in office, saying the decisions that he had made had kept the country safe from another terrorist attack.
In a final live TV address to the nation, he warned that another attack was still the "gravest threat" facing America.
While acknowledging he would have done some things differently, he said that he had always acted with the country's best interests at heart.
"Like all who have held this office before me, I have experienced setbacks," Mr Bush said. "There are things I would do differently if given the chance. Yet I have always acted with the best interests of our country in mind.
"I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right. You may not agree with some tough decisions I have made. But I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions."
He said that America still faced "danger and trial ahead" and, even though there has not been a terror attack since the events of 11 September, the threat was still very real. "We have faced danger and trial, and there's more ahead. But with the courage of our people and confidence in our ideals, this great nation will never tire, never falter and never fail," Mr Bush said.
"I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe. And with strong allies at our side, we have taken the fight to the terrorists and those who support them. There is legitimate debate about many of these decisions. But there can be little debate about the results. America has gone more than seven years without another terrorist attack on our soil."
The events of 11 September 2001, unsurprisingly, played a key part in his final speech from the East Room of the White House. The attacks on New York and the Pentagon have defined his presidency, leading to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the fight against the "war on terror".
The invasion of Iraq in 2003 and events at home, with America facing its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, have left Mr Bush with the worst popularity rating of any US president in more than 30 years.
He added that the events of 9/11, when almost 3,000 people died in the worst terror attack on US soil, changed his presidency.
"As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before 9/11. But I never did," he said.
"Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our nation. And I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe. America has gone more than seven years without another terrorist attack on our soil."
However, he warned Americans that "our enemies are patient, and determined to strike again".
Mr Bush began his 15-minute farewell address by praising his successor - "a man whose story reflects the enduring promise of our land". He said: "This is a moment of hope and pride for our whole nation. And I join all Americans in offering best wishes to president-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and their two beautiful girls." Mr Bush said his "highest honour" had been to serve as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, adding that America owed them a "debt of gratitude". He listed better standards in schools and health care and lower taxes among his domestic achievements.
The inauguration of Mr Obama takes place in Washington on Tuesday.
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