Bush says U.S. moral authority remains strong

On other matters of foreign policy, Bush defended Israel's actions in Gaza while calling for both the Jewish state and Hamas to work to a sustainable cease-fire.

He also defended the administration's efforts to broker peace between the Israelis and Palestinians, declaring that he thought there would be a peace built on a two-state solution.

"I think we have advanced the process," the president said.

He took pains to wish Obama, who will become the 44th president Jan. 20, every success and congratulated the country for electing its first African-American president.

"I consider myself fortunate to have a front-row seat on what is going to be a historic moment for the nation. President Obama's election does speak volumes about how far this country has come in terms of racial relations," Bush said.

As for his legacy as he leaves what may be one of the most controversial periods in U.S. history, Bush compared his presidency to that of Abraham Lincoln, who led the country through its bloody Civil War.

"I never spent that much time worrying about the loud voices (of critics). I of course heard them but they did not affect my policies," Bush said, predicting Obama would be "disappointed by the rhetoric that grows up in Washington and warning him that he will be let down by people who he thought were friends.

Bush said he was leaving it to his successor to decide on asking Congress to release a second $350 billion flood of federal funds designed to avert a collapse of the U.S. financial system.

"He hasn't asked me to make a request yet," Bush told reporters in a wide-ranging final question-and-answer session in which he thanked them for their professionalism even when he did not like what they were reporting.

"I don't intend to make a request unless he specifically asks me to make it," Bush said during the 36-minute news conference.

The request to Congress for the remainder of the $700 billion bailout money was still expected to land in Congress as early as Monday to permit Obama's administration to have the ability to use it shortly after taking office. The rescue fund was passed on Capitol Hill in September as the U.S. economic slide gained speed.

Obama, meanwhile, is working with Capitol Hill leaders to sell his own recovery package that was expected to call for additional spending of as much as $800 billion to reverse the worst U.S. economic downturn since the 1930's Great Depression.

1|2

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email