Bush regrets Iraq intel, immigration flap

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- George Bush said Iraq was both his biggest disappointment and his greatest accomplishment during his eight-year tenure as U.S. president.

"(The) biggest regret of all the presidency has to have been the intelligence failure in Iraq," Bush said in an interview with ABC News that aired Monday. "A lot of people put their reputations on the line and said the weapons of mass destruction is a reason to remove Saddam Hussein. And, you know, that's not a do-over but I wish the intelligence had been different, I guess."

Yet Iraq also provided him with his greatest accomplishment, Bush said.

"I keep recognizing we're in a war against ideological thugs and keeping America safe," he said.

The failure to enact immigration reform was another disappointment, Bush said.

"I firmly believe that the immigration debate really didn't show the true nature of America as a welcoming society. I fully understand we need to enforce law and enforce borders," Bush told ABC News. "But the debate took on a tone that undermined the true greatness of America, which is that we welcome people who want to work hard and support their families."