KEY POINTS:
President George W. Bush has admitted there have been moments from his eight years in office that he has come to regret, including the "Mission Accomplished" banner that was strung up behind him when he flew onto the deck of a US aircraft carrier in May 2003 after
the toppling of Saddam Hussein.
Talking to CNN in New York after leading Tuesday's Veterans Day ceremonies aboard another aircraft carrier - USS Intrepid, now a museum - Mr Bush revealed that he expects to return directly to Texas after the inauguration of Barack Obama. Once there, he might then write a book.
Mr Bush seemed to intimate a sense of having been misunderstood on occasion or a feeling that the burdens he has borne have been underestimated by his critics.
"I want people to know what it was like to make some of the decisions I had to make," he said.
"In other words, what was the moment like? And I've had one of those presidencies where I've had to make some tough calls, and I want people to know the truth about what it was like sitting in the Oval Office."
He was frank about bloopers he has made, "I regret saying some things I shouldn't have said" and recalled how his wife, Laura, had warned him that "as president of the United States, be careful what you say".
He ticked off two remarks he would like now to take back: "Bring 'em on" and "dead or alive".
He made the first when talking about the threat posed by insurgents in a post-Saddam Iraq. The second was made in the wake of the 2001 terror attacks, characterising his appetite for capturing Osama bin Laden, the head of al Qaeda. It would only cement his reputation in the rest of the world as a cowboy gunslinger, with a disdain for democracy.
Clearly no one has tried to hide from him the ridicule that the "Mission Accomplished" sign attracted, particularly in the months after his appearance on USS Abraham Lincoln when the euphoria of removing Saddam gave way to the reality of an Iraq convulsed by a civil war the US could not contain.
"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."
However, he also pointed out high points of his presidency that he looked back to with special pride, including the widely praised programmes his administration has spearheaded on the fight against HIV/Aids in Africa.
"I am proud to be the commander-in-chief of people who are so selfless and so courageous that they would volunteer to serve our country in a time of war," he said.
"I'm proud when I see people feed the hungry. I'm proud when I'm in Africa and see volunteers helping those citizens dying of HIV/Aids."
And he adopted a generous stance when questioned about his meeting in Washington on Monday with Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.
Indeed, it was a misty-eyed Mr Bush, jaw jogging from side to side as if recording his emotions, who noted the historic nature of the election and the pleasure of seeing a family with young children ready to move in the White House.
"I remember the conversation I had with my predecessor Bill Clinton in 2000," Mr Bush said.
"As a matter of fact, I called him yesterday and said, 'Bill, I'm getting ready to meet with the new president and I remember how gracious you were to me. I hope I can be as gracious to President-elect Obama as you were to me'."
Mr Bush declined to comment on the substance of his discussions with Mr Obama but did describe the more casual moments as he and Michelle explored what will soon be their home.
"It was interesting to watch him go upstairs. He wanted to see where his little girls were going to sleep. Clearly, this guy is going to bring a sense of family to the White House, and I hope Laura and I did the same thing. He is a good dad and I think that's going to be an important part of his presidency."
Mr Bush came close to endorsing Mr Obama - or at least what he now stands for as the first African American to achieve the office.
"The election of Barack Obama is a historic moment for our country. There are a lot of people in America who did not believe they would ever see this day. It is good for our country that people have hope in the system and feel vested in the future and President-elect Obama has a great opportunity. I really do wish him all the best."
- INDEPENDENT
