Bush praises Obama's Afghanistan surge in memoir

Washington, Nov 8 (ANI): Former US President George W. Bush has reportedly praised Barack Obama's decision to escalate the war in Afghanistan, in his memoir "Decision Points."

"I strongly believe the mission is worth the cost," Politico quoted Bush, as saying in his book.

He also expressed his gratitude that Obama "stood up to critics by deploying more troops, announcing a new commitment to counterinsurgency in Afghanistan, and increasing the pressure on Pakistan to fight the extremists in the tribal areas."

Obama announced the official end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq this August (although around 50,000 troops remain), and his attention as it relates to national security primarily focuses on Afghanistan.

"Ultimately, the only way the Taliban and al Qaeda can retake Afghanistan is if America abandons the country. Allowing the extremists to reclaim power would force Afghan women back into subservience, remove girls from school, and betray all the gains of the past nine years. It would also endanger our security," Bush added.

Bush ordered the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, and he's been criticized for allowing the situation to get out of control by diverting resources to a war of choice in Iraq, the site said.

In the 497-page autobiography, Obama comes up in 10 places, and each mention is either a favourable, sympathetic or tangential reference. There is not a single unkind word about Obama in the book, it added.

He further praised Obama for his "tremendous appeal to voters under 50" and admired "a smart, disciplined, high-tech campaign to get his young supporters to the polls." (ANI)