If you lived through the early 2000s or know someone who did, you’re probably aware of the fact that the George W. Bush administration invaded Iraq on false pretenses, that troops stayed there for nearly a decade, and that the prolonged conflict resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. Many were and remain extremely angry about this, but, obviously, most of the individuals responsible have never admitted that the reason for the invasion and subsequent war was entirely baseless, that lives were taken in vain, and that the entire exercise, per U.S. intelligence agencies, became “the ‘cause célèbre’ for jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of U.S. involvement in the Muslim world and cultivating supporters for the global jihadist movement.” Until now! By complete accident!

Speaking at an event in Dallas about the state of democracy, Bush noted that Russian president Vladimir Putin has systemically stifled popular dissent and jailed political opponents, which, the 43rd POTUS said, has led to “an absence of checks and balances in Russia, and the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq.” Whoops! “I mean, of Ukraine,” Bush said, shaking his head. Then he shrugged his shoulders and muttered, “Iraq too,” before blaming the slip of the tongue on being 75.

More than 4,000 American troops died during the war; estimates for Iraqi casualties have ranged from hundreds of thousands to closer to 1 million.

Back in February, former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice appeared on Fox News to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (good), though she forgot to mention her role in the whole Iraq-war situation (less good).

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