Bush: It ‘doesn’t hurt my feelings’ that Obama doesn’t call

Former President George W. Bush reflected on Iraq in an interview on Thursday and said that President Obama does not call him regularly, but it “doesn’t hurt my feelings.”

Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq as president and Obama is dealing with instability there after the removal of U.S. troops in 2011.

“The Iraqi people obviously are going to have to make the decision as to whether or not they want to live in peace,” Bush said on Fox News. “They’re not ready to do it on their own, that’s the lesson we’ve learned recently.” 

{mosads}But he pointed to “strong institutions” there and said democracy takes time to build.

Republicans have criticized Obama for not leaving behind some troops in the country after 2011.

Bush said he does not want to “second-guess” Obama, but did agree when asked about Gen. Martin Dempsey’s recommendation in 2011 that troops stay behind. “I agreed with General Dempsey’s assessment,” Bush said.

Bush said the sacrifice of veterans has been worth it. “It really was. The world is better off without Saddam Hussein in power or the Taliban in power,” he said.

Bush did not speak extensively about Obama opening an offensive of his own against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants. Bush did say that ISIS has the “same exact modus operandi of those who murdered 3,000 on our soil,” referring to al Qaeda’s attacks on Sept. 11.

Bush called interim Secret Service Director Joe Clancy, with whom he worked, “a good man.” “I trust his judgment a lot,” he added.

“Joe will do a good job,” Bush said. 

Asked about his higher approval ratings out of office, Bush replied, “I wish I could tell you I cared.”

Read more from The Hill:

George W. Bush: Jeb ‘wants’ presidency