Jeb Bush says he would have invaded Iraq in 2003

Republican presidential candidate discusses some of his brother’s decisions

(Getty Images)

Jeb Bush has said that he would have made the same decision as his brother, George W. Bush, and would have authorised the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The Iraqi invasion has long been questioned by many in the US under the dubious circumstances – mostly involving weapons of mass destruction – surrounding the invasion. But Mr Bush told Fox News that intelligence in 2003 left little choice but to invade.

“I would have [authorized the invasion], and so would have Hillary Clinton, just to remind everybody. And so would almost everybody that was confronted with the intelligence they got,” Mr Bush said.

The presumed Republican presidential candidate – he has not officially declared yet – said that it was security concerns in Iraq that the US failed to handle that led to a situation that mandated an invasion.

“By the way, guess who thinks that those mistakes took place as well? George W. Bush,” the younger Bush said. “Yes, I mean, so just for the news flash to the world, if they’re trying to find places where there’s big space between me and my brother, this might not be one of those.”

During the interview with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly, Mr Bush also addressed the immigration issue, which is one where he differs from many of his Republican compatriots.

“I mean, there’s got to be a point where we fix this system so that legal immigration is easier than illegal immigration and show some respect for people,” he said. To “a kid that might have been here 10 years, that might be a valedictorian of their high school, to say, 'No, no, no, you’re not allowed to go to college,' I just think there’s a point passed which we’re over the line."

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