Former US President George W. Bush has mistakenly described the invasion of Iraq as “brutal” and “unjustified” before correcting himself by saying he meant Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Bush commented in a speech at an event in Dallas on Wednesday, criticizing Russia’s political system.
“The result is a lack of checks and balances in Russia and one man’s decision to launch a completely unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq,” Bush said before straightening up and shaking his head. “I mean Ukraine. “
He jokingly blamed his mistake for his age, while the audience burst out laughing.
In 2003, when Mr. Bush was president, the United States invaded Iraq over weapons of mass destruction that were never found. The protracted conflict has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced many more.
Mr Bush’s remarks quickly went viral on social media, garnering more than three million views on Twitter alone after the video was tweeted by a Dallas News reporter.
The former US president also compared Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky to Winston Churchill, while condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin for launching the invasion of Ukraine in February.
Moscow’s troops have been accused of widespread atrocities against civilians during their devastating campaign, and Ukraine began its first war crimes trial in the conflict on Wednesday, with a Russian soldier pleading guilty.
The conflict has sparked the mass exodus of more than six million Ukrainians, many of whom are stories of torture, sexual violence and indiscriminate destruction.
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