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Dallas. Autograph-seekers descended on a Dallas shopping center this week as former US President George W. Bush officially kicked off the release of his new memoir, receiving praise for his candor at a hometown bookstore even as his renewed defense of waterboarding as an interrogation tactic was greeted with derision overseas.

First in line at the Borders store about a mile from Bush’s Dallas home were Terry and Tammy Jones of suburban Justin, who camped out overnight.

Terry Jones said he admired Bush because “when he makes a decision, he sticks with it.”

But such steadfastness also prompted criticism in Europe, where reports about Bush’s memoir “Decision Points” focused on waterboarding.

In an interview in The Times of London, Bush said the tactic forced the alleged 9/11 mastermind to provide information that prevented attacks in London’s Heathrow Airport and Canary Wharf business district.

In France, the Le Monde newspaper noted an “absence of regret” in Bush’s defense of waterboarding.

In a more lighthearted moment, Bush said in interview on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that writing the memoir “was an easy process.”

“A lot of people don’t think I can read, much less write,” he joked.

As in the book, Bush also recounted to Winfrey the mistakes of his presidency, saying he still feels “sick” about the fact no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq.

His response to Hurricane Katrina could have been quicker, he said, and he acknowledged he did not see the financial meltdown coming.

Bush, however, had nothing negative to say about President Barack Obama, whom Winfrey supported in 2008.

“I didn’t like it when people criticized me,” Bush said. “And so you’re not going to see me out there chirping away at Obama. And I want our president to succeed. I love our country.”

Largely out of the public view since he left office, Bush is now vigorously promoting his book, with planned appearances across the country.

Bush even called in to conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh’s radio program, voicing support for an extension of his administration’s tax cuts and denying reports he privately criticized fellow Republican John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate.

His memoir does offer revelations though, including his confirmation that the target of a 2007 Israeli airstrike was a Syrian nuclear reactor and suggestion he quietly approved the action.

Bush also reveals Israel first asked the United States to bomb the site, but his administration refused.

In Israel, one of the few places Bush remained popular throughout his term, news media coverage of the book focused on his warm praise for ex-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, support for Israel’s tough crackdown on Palestinian militants in the past decade and animosity toward the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.

Holly McKnight, a legally blind 36-year-old from Arlington who visited the Dallas event, said she was thrilled the audio book — read by Bush — was available the same day as the print edition.

McKnight said she told Bush, “Thank you for all you do. You are prayed for,” as he autographed her book.

“Keep it up, it works,” Bush responded.

Adrienne Cantwell, 57, of Coppell, stood in line with her 18-year-old daughter. Cantwell said she and her husband both served in the Air Force and their son also had served in the military.

“He might send us to hard places, but he still cared about what happened to us and he supported us,” she said of Bush. “He gave us what we needed.”

Amber Fletcher, a 23-year-old student at Texas Women’s University, said she was eager to read the memoir.

“Everybody plays the blame game and I just want to know his side of the story,” said Fletcher, who wore a T-shirt bearing a smiling Bush giving a thumbs up and the phrase “Miss Me Yet.”

She stopped to have her picture snapped with about five protesters who held signs, including one reading “Torture is illegal,” at the corner of the shopping center.
 

Associated Press