"HT Leadership Summit":Bush expresses 'deepest condolences' for 9/11 and 26/11 victims.

*Former US president George W. Bush Saturday expressed his "deepest condolences" to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and their families.Addressing the HT Leadership Summit here, he noted that the anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks was round the corner.Like 9/11 in America, 26/11 served as a "moment of clarity" in India, he said.Pointing out that both the US and India had held democratic elections this year, he congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress on their electoral victory.He favoured a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) seat for India, saying on Saturday that India has "arrived" as a strong democratic country in the world.He also wanted India and the US to work together to win the war on terror in Afghanistan to bring peace and stability in the region."We must see the possibility of a seat for India in the United Nations Security Council," Bush said, speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi.
Life has changed,but not my respect for India:Turning on the charm offensive, former US president George W. Bush said here Friday that he had been looking forward to coming to India and "saying namaste"."I am an old retired guy, so I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts with you," Bush said in his opening remarks at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.Amid much laughter from the audience, he said about his days since retiring as US president: "I suggested Laura take up cooking, she suggested I take up washing dishes."
He said he was using his free time to write a book. "I am giving a fair number of speeches and incredibly I get paid for it.""Life has changed but some things haven't changed... like my respect for India," Bush added.Referring to the commonalities between the people of the two giant democracies, the US and India, he said: "Our nations are united by our interests, our values... We share a great appreciation for your robust and free press.""I really, really like your prime minister," Bush said about Manmohan Singh.
Obama election'was uplifting moment':Barack Obama's election as president of the US was an "uplifting moment", his predecessor and Republican rival George W. Bush said here Saturday.The election of Obama, a Democrat and the US' first African American president, "was an uplifting moment for our democracy... not my first choice, but I wish him every success", Bush said amid laughter at the HT Leadership Summit here.