Waterboarding -- Bush memoir's perspective -- P.M. Cameron & U.K.

Washingtonpost dot-com Nov. 9, 2010 -- review of President (43) memoir:


Overseas reports about Bush's memoir Decision Points focused on waterboarding.
In an interview in The Times of London, Bush said the tactic forced the alleged 9/11 mastermind to provide information that prevented attacks in London's Heathrow Airport and Canary Wharf business district. Prime Minister David Cameron's office subsequently restated the British government's belief that waterboarding is illegal. Kim Howells, a former lawmaker who chaired the House of Commons' intelligence and security committee, expressed doubts about Bush's claim.
In France, the Le Monde newspaper noted an "absence of regret" in Bush's defense of waterboarding.
In a more lighthearted moment, Bush said in interview that aired Tuesday on The Oprah Winfrey Show that writing the memoir "was an easy process."
"A lot of people don't think I can read, much less write," he joked.
As in the book, Bush also recounted to Winfrey the mistakes of his presidency, saying he still feels "sick" about the fact no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq. His response to Hurricane Katrina could have been quicker, he said, and he acknowledged he didn't see the financial meltdown coming.
Bush, however, had nothing negative to say about President Barack Obama, whom Winfrey famously supported in 2008.
"I didn't like it when people criticized me," Bush said. "And so you're not going to see me out there chirping away (at Obama). And I want our president to succeed. I love our country."
Largely out of the public view since he left office, Bush is now vigorously promoting his book, with planned appearances across the country this week.