Newsweek Interview: Former President George H.W. Bush

 Bush Senior Talks About Sending Troops into Combat, the French and Claims of
   Bush II's 'Failed Diplomacy,' Says 'It Seems to be Au Courant, If You'll
  Excuse My Knowledge of French, Having Studied It for 11 years, but I Don't
                                Agree with It'

    NEW YORK, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Former President George H.W. Bush tells
Managing Editor Jon Meacham that although he doesn't talk to his son about how
to handle the pressures of a war, "I talk to him a lot -- and so does his
mother. It's very personal ... I've never, ever heard him whine about 'the
loneliest job in the world,' or how heavy the burden is." Meacham's interview
with the 41st president on Saddam, what it's like to send troops into combat,
Bush II's diplomacy and those troublesome French appears in the March 31 issue
of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, March 24).
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030323/NYSU016 )

     * On Bush II's diplomacy: "What burns me up now are these statements that
       are critical of the president and of Colin Powell -- 'failed
       diplomacy.' The problem they face is so different and so much bigger
       that I think any comparison is just night and day. It seems to be au
       courant, if you'll excuse my knowledge of French, having studied it for
       11 years, but I don't agree with it."

     * On the French: "I think when history is written people are going to
       find some very interesting things about the French position ... There's
       always been some friction. I was once talking to group of French
       intellectuals, and I said, 'You think we're arrogant, and we think
       you're French.' And they looked at each other and thought maybe I'd
       said something very intelligent."

     * On the Germans: "And I'm annoyed at the German position. I don't talk
       about it publicly, but I know a lot of German people not in the
       coalition government with Schroder who are very, very upset about the
       position of their government.""

     * On whether his son cares what the world thinks: "You've got to do
       what's right, and that's why I have great respect, not just love and
       affection, but great respect, for the president because he can make
       those tough decisions, and for Colin Powell, too, I might add. I hate
       criticism of Colin Powell from any quarter."

     * On whether he should have done in Saddam: "Of course, that's the
       question that irritates me the most, because the mission was not to
       kill Saddam Hussein; the mission wasn't to occupy Baghdad back then."

     * On sending soldiers to battle: "It's the toughest decision by far that
       any president has to make. The first time I had to do it was in Panama,
       and literally I was physically in a vise because it just seemed so
       overwhelming. I went down to the hospital in San Antonio afterward and
       saw a soldier who had been wounded in the Panama strike, and he saluted
       and said, 'The one thing I want to do, sir, is go back and serve my
       country,' at which I dissolved, of course."

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SOURCE  Newsweek