George W Bush Blasts The "Wholly Unjustified And Brutal Invasion of Iraq... I Mean, of Ukraine"

Former President George W. Bush: “The decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq. I mean of Ukraine.” pic.twitter.com/UMwNMwMnmX

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) May 19, 2022

"The way countries conduct elections is indicative of how their leaders treat their own people, and how nations behave toward other nations," Bush said. "And nowhere is this on display more clearly than Ukraine."

Bush noted that Zelenskyy, whom he described as a "cool little guy," and "the Churchill of the 21st century" was empowered by electoral legitimacy before leading the defense of his country against the Russian invasion.

Bush's former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during a panel discussion that she thanked God for then-Vice President Mike Pence, who oversaw the certification. "I cried on Jan. 6, because I thought to myself: I study countries who do this, I don't live in a country who does this," said Rice, who is an expert on Russia.

But during his 10-minute speech, Bush also made a verbal faux pas while referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Bush noted has brutally stifled popular dissent and had political opponents imprisoned.

"The result is an absence of checks and balances in Russia, and the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq," Bush said, before wincing and correcting himself. "I mean, of Ukraine."

The comment left the audience in an awkward silence. Then, Bush shrugged and said under his breath: "Iraq, too."

The crowd erupted in laughter after Bush blamed the mistake on his age — 75.