Bush reflecting on White House legacy

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush, with his presidency nearly over, is reflecting on his White House years and admitting some regrets, observers say.

While shying away from some of the most controversial episodes of his tenure, such as the bungled federal response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Bush in recent weeks has made comments that indicate he is performing some level of self-analysis and is admitting some things went wrong, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

For instance, he recently acknowledged his low popularity and has admitted to a few previously unacknowledged errors. Bush told one media outlet he was "unprepared for war" when he entered office and said his "biggest regret" was the failure of intelligence leading up to the Iraq invasion, the newspaper noted.

He has also been open about his eagerness to lead a lower-profile life and says he is anxious to get out of the limelight, CNN reported.

Bush's post-presidential agenda is already being pursued, such as fundraising and planning for his presidential library, which is to be built on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, the broadcaster said.