‘Wholly Unjustified & Brutal Invasion Of Iraq...’: Bush's Gaffe As He Opposes Russian Assault | WATCH

George Bush oversaw the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which is widely seen as both brutal and unjustified as tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians lost their lives

Former US president George W Bush was speaking in Dallas when he ended up saying that he opposed “unjustified and brutal invasion” of Iraq. ( Image Source :Getty Images )

New Delhi: Formers US president George W Bush is garnering attention on social media for a major verbal slip-up that he made while discussing the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to local reports, the former president was speaking in Dallas when he ended up saying that he opposed “unjustified and brutal invasion” of Iraq, instead of Ukraine. George Bush oversaw the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which is widely seen as both brutal and unjustified as tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians lost their lives along with American troops in the war that ensued following the president's decision.

Speaking about the Russian offensive in Ukraine, he said: “The result is an absence of checks and balances in Russia, and the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq,” Bush said, then correcting himself, “I mean, of Ukraine.”

Speaking in Dallas this afternoon, former President George. W Bush made a significant verbal slip-up while discussing the war in Ukraine.

He tried referencing what he described as the “wholly unjustified and brutal invasion” — but said Iraq, instead of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/tw0VNJzKmE

— Michael Williams (@michaeldamianw) May 19, 2022

As an awkward silence followed, Bush shrugged and said under his breath: “Iraq, too”. The crowd erupted in laughter as Bush blamed the mistake on his age — 75.

As expected, several social media users had reactions to share with one calling it “the verbal slip of the year”:

That will be the verbal slip of the year, and this year, that is saying something.

— @perk (@perk) May 19, 2022

Freudian Slip to the extreme 😂

— Gerrick (@RealGerick) May 19, 2022

Fate loves irony

— Zach 🧢⬆️🔰 (@MidwestzForward) May 19, 2022

“Paging Dr Freud, you’re wanted in analysis”

— A.M. Belliot (@DionysianDogma) May 19, 2022

According to a report by Dallas News, Bush in his address said that “the way countries conduct elections is indicative of how their leaders treat their own people, and how nations behave toward other nations”. “And nowhere is this on display more clearly than Ukraine,” he added.

Calling Zelenskyy a “cool little guy,” and “the Churchill of the 21st century”, the former president noted that he was empowered by electoral legitimacy before leading the defense of his country against the Russian invasion.