Washington: US President George W Bush on Monday night rejected criticism that America had lost its “moral standing” during his term and said people in India, China and Africa admired America.
Bush, while addressing his final press conference at the White House, said the elite may not like America but the people of many nations don’t view America in a “dim light”.
"I strongly disagree with the assessment that our moral standing has been damaged," said Bush when a correspondent told him that the incoming administration of Barack Obama has said there is a need to restore America's moral standing.
"It may be damaged amongst some of the elite. But people still understand America stands for freedom; that America is a country that provides such great hope. You go to Africa. You ask Africans about American's generosity and compassion. Go to India and ask about, you know, America's—their view of America. Go to China and ask.”
The war in Iraq damaged US credibility abroad and contributed to the resounding victory by Obama, a Democrat, against John McCain, the nominee of Bush's Republican party, in the November election. Bush, however, defended his decision to attack Iraq.
"Parts of Europe have said that we shouldn't have gone to war in Iraq without a mandate, but those are few countries," Bush said.
"I've—I listened, I've told people, Yes, you can try to be popular. In certain quarters in Europe, you can be popular by blaming every Middle Eastern problem on Israel. Or you can be popular by joining the International Criminal Court. I guess I could have been popular by accepting Kyoto, which I felt was a flawed treaty, and proposed something different and more constructive."
"I disagree with this assessment that, you know, people view America in a dim light. I just don't agree with that," he said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, after his summit talks with the American President in Washington in September 2008, had said that India loves Bush, a remark that was criticised by the Left parties.
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