Tony Blair: Bush Viewed World with "Immense Simplicity"
Former President George W. Bush was "true idealist" who "had immense simplicity in how he saw the world," former British Prime Minister Tony Blair wrote in his newly-released memoir, according to reports.
Blair, now a Middle East peace envoy, described elements of his personal and professional relationship with the former American president in "A Journey," which was released in British bookstores Wednesday.
"Right or wrong it led to decisive leadership," Blair wrote of Mr. Bush's world view, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Blair also wrote that Mr. Bush "had genuine integrity and as much political courage as any leader I ever met," CNN reports.
The former prime minister describes himself as a progressive more in line politically with former President Bill Clinton. In fact, he calls Mr. Clinton his "political soulmate."
He reportedly suggests in his memoir that he was uneasy with Mr. Bush's 2002 State of the Union speech, in which the president described Iran, Iraq, Syria and North Korea as an "axis of evil," according to the Telegraph. He noted there were "drawbacks with the way this thesis was expressed by its supporters."
However, he defended Mr. Bush against those quick to criticize the president's policies.
"He was basically considered a right-wing Republican bastard for getting rid of hostile brutal dictatorships and insisting they be replaced not with friendly brutal dictatorships but with an attempt at liberal democracy," Blair reportedly wrote.
Blair also reportedly called Mr. Bush very personable.
"You might not agree with him, but if you're a voter, you would never think you would be uncomfortable or feel inadequate if you met him socially," Blair wrote. "You would think he would be nice and easy with you. And you'd be right."
