Bush regret over Iraq war rhetoric

US President George W. Bush has expressed regret about divisions caused by the Iraq war and the rhetoric he used at the time.

US President George W. Bush has expressed regret about divisions caused by the Iraq war and the rhetoric he used at the time.

"I think that in retrospect I could have used a different tone, a different rhetoric," Mr Bush told the Wednesday edition of the Times, referring to the US-led invasion of Iraq.

He acknowledged that phrases like "bring them on" and "dead or alive" had given the impression he was "not a man of peace".

Currently visiting Europe, seven months before he steps down, Mr Bush remains unpopular in western Europe more than five years after he clashed with former German leader Gerhard Schroeder, France, Russia and other countries over the US-led invasion of Iraq.

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He will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel today before heading to Rome, Paris, London and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

Ms Merkel, a pro-American conservative, has worked hard to repair ties between the Cold War allies and has formed a close relationship with Mr Bush, who appears keen to emphasise diplomacy over military might on his European trip.

Mr Bush started his European tour at a US-European Union summit in Slovenia, where he stressed the need to build up international pressure on Iran, but stopped short of his usual warning that all options are on the table in dealing with Tehran and its nuclear enrichment programme.

Within a week, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, plans to present a revised package of political and economic incentives for Iran to give up enrichment, similar to an offer made in 2006 that was rejected.