There have been many memorable moments in George Bush’s career — invading Iraq, declaring the war ”accomplished”, Hurricane Katrina. But the United States President recalled that his greatest moment in office had come not on the field of battle but while out fishing.
Asked by Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper what he considered to be his greatest triumph, Bush replied: ”I’ve experienced many great moments. It’s hard for me to name the greatest.” He went on: ”I would say that the best moment of all came when I caught a seven-and-a-half pound perch while fishing on my lake.”
Bush, who has not previously been noted as a prize-winning angler, made his remarks during Angela Merkel’s visit to Washington last week. In the interview, published on Sunday, he praised Germany’s new Chancellor, describing her as a ”very strong woman”.
He said he was fascinated by her upbringing in communist East Germany. ”I spent some time with Angela Merkel in our private dining room in the White House and listened to her. I asked her what it was like to grow up as a child there. Interestingly she began by describing her mother and father. That said a lot to me about what kind of person she is.”
Bush, who is to visit Merkel’s picturesque Baltic constituency in July, also said he had forgiven Germany for not taking part in the Iraq war. Merkel represented a ”chance to turn a new chapter” in US-German relations, he said.
”I’m thrilled with my relationship with Chancellor Merkel, she’s a really interesting person … I find her to be confident, not overconfident, but confident in her beliefs and that’s very important for me,” he told Germany’s ARD television.
Bush also said that where he came from ”football didn’t exist” and that as a boy he had not watched a single game. He expressed some confidence that the US team would do well in next month’s World Cup. Asked whether they would win, he replied: ”Who knows.” – Guardian Unlimited Â