George W. Bush has had no shortage of gaffes during his reign of terror. One such miscue may also be the most enduring image of his presidency — that speech in front of a “Mission Accomplished” banner before his war in Iraq turned into an outright catastrophe. He now regrets that moment, among others.

Speaking with CNN, Bush said his “wanted, dead or alive” and “bring ’em on” statements were also mistakes.

The president once famously struggled to think of a single mistake he had made. With a few years to think about the question, he should have come up with something better than a couple of ill-conceived phrases.

CNN:

On Tuesday, the president also referenced the moment aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1, 2003, during which he declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq.

“They had a sign that said ‘Mission Accomplished.’ It was a sign aimed at the sailors on the ship, but it conveyed a broader knowledge. To some it said, well, Bush thinks the war in Iraq is over, when I didn’t think that. But nonetheless, it conveyed the wrong message.”

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#cnn#george w bush#interview#iraq#mission accomplished#politics#speech#war