Former President Bush is hugged by moderator Letty Valadez Garza at University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg.
Posted on 02/06/2004 4:52:34 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
EDINBURG — A post-war Iraq should yield an "Iraq for the Iraqis and a democracy," former President Bush told a crowd of Rio Grande Valley students Thursday, but where his thoughts differed from the current president, No. 41 wouldn't say.
Before speaking at a $625-a-plate dinner for Valley business leaders, Bush opened himself up to questions from a panel of high school and college students, but prescreened queries kept the conversation tame.
More than 1,000 students welcomed the president's appearance as part of the University of Texas Pan American Foundation's third annual Outstanding Leadership Series.
There are some differences in opinion between presidential father and son, but it's best to keep that out of the spotlight, the elder Bush said.
"The media business would be compelled to say, 'I think I sense a difference on this subject or that with the president or the governor of Florida, and I wouldn't do that," he said. "I had my chance. We got some things right; we messed up some things."
Bush called his decision to take military action in Iraq in 1991 after that country's invasion of Kuwait one of the toughest of his term.
In Gulf War I, Kuwait was liberated, but Saddam Hussein remained in power.
Thirteen years later with his son as commander in chief, Bush reiterated his support for Gulf War II, which drove the Iraqi leader from power.
"The bottom line is: Are we better off? Are the Iraqis better off then when Saddam Hussein was in power?" he said. "I think the president made a tough decision. I though it was the right decision."
A majority of the topics broached, however, provided lessons on leadership and often funny stories of the Bush family, spurred by the softball questions that a committee of students and faculty pre-approved.
Bush said the dismantling of the Soviet Union was inspirational.
When asked about his biggest accomplishment besides being president, he quickly answered: "Marrying Barbara 59 years ago."
---mcastillo@express-news.net
Former President Bush is hugged by moderator Letty Valadez Garza at University of Texas Pan American in Edinburg.
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