Bush praises SEALs for bin Laden raid

LAS VEGAS, May 13 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President George W. Bush says he was eating dinner when his successor told him Osama bin Laden was dead, and hailed the team that killed him.

Speaking Wednesday before a conference of hedge fund managers in Las Vegas, Bush said, "I was eating souffle at Rise Restaurant [in Dallas] with Laura and two buddies.

"I excused myself and went home to take the call. Obama simply said, 'Osama Bin Laden is dead.'"

Bush said President Barack Obama described the raid in detail and he responded, "Good call."

ABC News reported Bush's remarks Friday.

Bush said he was "not overjoyed" and pursued bin Laden not "out of hatred but to exact judgment."

"Osama's death is a great victory in the war on terror," he said.

Bush also praised the U.S. intelligence community for its work in the hunt for the al-Qaida chief.

"I met SEAL Team Six in Afghanistan," he added. "They are awesome, skilled, talented and brave. I said, 'I hope you have everything you need. One guy said, 'We need your permission to go into Pakistan and kick ass.'"