PoliticsSyriaPoliticsgeorge w bush syria

George W. Bush On Syria: 'I Was Not A Fan Of Mr. Assad'

Bush 'Not A Fan' Of 'Mischief'-Making Leader
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Senior Editor, Breaking News, HuffPost

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Former President George W. Bush opened up about the situation in Syria on Friday, saying he "was not a fan" of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“He's an ally of Iran and he's made mischief," Bush told Fox News' Brian Kilmeade on Friday morning.

Bush tried to resist when Kilmeade asked about a potential strike on Syria, saying he knew the Fox host was "trying to subtly roll me into the issues of the day."

"I refuse to be roped in," Bush said.

Bush did say President Barack Obama "has to make a tough call" on Syria.

"Putting our military into harm's way is the toughest decision a president will make," Bush said.

Bush said people should learn from 9/11 when considering a potential attack on Syria, noting the U.S. can't ignore what's going on in other parts of the world.

"As time passes, people forget the lessons of September 11," Bush said. "One of the key lessons is the human condition elsewhere matters to the security of the United States."

According to a new HuffPost/YouGov poll, most Americans are doubtful that airstrikes in Syria would do much to curb the turmoil there. An NBC News poll released Friday showed 50 percent of Americans said the U.S. should not take action against Syria in response to the use of chemical weapons, while 42 percent supported intervention.

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Before You Go

George W. Bushisms Over The Years
(01 of23)
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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." -- September 2000, explaining his energy policies at an event in Michigan.Source: The Associated Press (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) (credit:AP)
(02 of23)
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"Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?" -- January 2000, during a campaign event in South Carolina.Source: The Associated Press (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, file) (credit:AP)
(03 of23)
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"They misunderestimated the compassion of our country. I think they misunderestimated the will and determination of the commander in chief, too." -- Sept. 26, 2001, in Langley, Va. Bush was referring to the terrorists who carried out the Sept. 11 attacks. Source: The Associated Press (AP Photo/Doug Mills) (credit:AP)
(04 of23)
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"There's no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail." -- Oct. 4, 2001, in Washington. Bush was remarking on a back-to-work plan after the terrorist attacks. Source: The Associated Press (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(05 of23)
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"It would be a mistake for the United States Senate to allow any kind of human cloning to come out of that chamber." -- April 10, 2002, at the White House, as Bush urged Senate passage of a broad ban on cloning.Source: The Associated Press (MANNY CENETA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(06 of23)
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"I want to thank the dozens of welfare-to-work stories, the actual examples of people who made the firm and solemn commitment to work hard to embetter themselves." -- April 18, 2002, at the White House.Source: The Associated Press (Photo by Stefan Zaklin/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(07 of23)
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"There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on _ shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again." -- Sept. 17, 2002, in Nashville, Tenn.Source: The Associated Press (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(08 of23)
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"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."-- Aug. 5, 2004, at the signing ceremony for a defense spending bill.Source: The Associated Press (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (credit:AP)
(09 of23)
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"Our most abundant energy source is coal. We have enough coal to last for 250 years, yet coal also prevents an environmental challenge." -- April 20, 2005, in Washington.Source: The Associated Press (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(10 of23)
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"Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." -- Sept. 6, 2004, at a rally in Poplar Bluff, Mo.Source: The Associated Press (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(11 of23)
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"We look forward to hearing your vision, so we can more better do our job." --Sept. 20, 2005, in Gulfport, Miss.Source: The Associated Press (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(12 of23)
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"I can't wait to join you in the joy of welcoming neighbors back into neighborhoods, and small businesses up and running, and cutting those ribbons that somebody is creating new jobs." -- Sept. 5, 2005, when Bush met with residents of Poplarville, Miss., in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.Source: The Associated Press (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(13 of23)
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"It was not always a given that the United States and America would have a close relationship. After all, 60 years we were at war 60 years ago we were at war." -- June 29, 2006, at the White House, where Bush met with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.Source: The Associated Press (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds) (credit:AP)
(14 of23)
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"Make no mistake about it, I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die."-- Dec. 7, 2006, in a joint appearance with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.Source: The Associated Press (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(15 of23)
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"These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved."-- June 11, 2007, in Sofia, Bulgaria.Source: The Associated Press (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds/file) (credit:AP)
(16 of23)
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"Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your introduction. Thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit." -- September 2007, in Sydney, Australia, where Bush was attending an APEC summit.Source: The Associated Press (TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(17 of23)
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"Thank you, Your Holiness. Awesome speech." -- April 16, 2008, at a ceremony welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the White House.Source: The Associated Press (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) (credit:AP)
(18 of23)
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"The fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there's jobs at the machine-making place."-- May 27, 2008, in Mesa, Ariz.Source: The Associated Press (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (credit:AP)
(19 of23)
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"And they have no disregard for human life."-- July 15, 2008, at the White House. Bush was referring to enemy fighters in Afghanistan.Source: The Associated Press (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File) (credit:AP)
(20 of23)
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"I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office."-- June 26, 2008, during a Rose Garden news briefing.Source: The Associated Press (Photo by by Ken Cedeno-Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(21 of23)
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"Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a great and growing nation of more than 300 people."-- July 4, 2008 in Virginia.Source: The Associated Press (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(22 of23)
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"The people in Louisiana must know that all across our country there's a lot of prayer _ prayer for those whose lives have been turned upside down. And I'm one of them. It's good to come down here." -- Sept. 3, 2008, at an emergency operations center in Baton Rouge, La., after Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast.Source: The Associated Press (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) (credit:AP)
(23 of23)
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"This thaw -- took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw." -- Oct. 20, 2008, in Alexandria, La., as he discussed the economy and frozen credit markets.Source: The Associated Press (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File) (credit:AP)
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