In a rare one-on-one interview with Meet the Press, President Bush this weekend defended his decisions to invade Iraq, his tax cuts and his military service during the Vietnam War. Bush described himself as a “war president” and mentioned the word war at least two dozen times in the hour-long interview. He repeatedly said the decision to invade Iraq was shaped by the Sept. 11 attacks and said the war was necessary even if no weapons are found. Bush said “This is a dangerous world. I wish it wasn’t. I’m a war president. I make decisions here in the Oval Office in foreign policy matters with war on my mind.” He also defended his record in the National Guard which has come under criticism from Democratic frontrunner John Kerry and others. Bush said “I put in my time.” The controversy arose four years ago when the Boston Globe found there was no evidence that showed Bush fulfilled his duties between May 1972 and May 1973. Bush told Russert “There may be no evidence, but I did report.” Bush also defended his economic policies despite the surging national deficit. He claimed he would cut the deficit in half in five years. Bush’s performance was criticized by many. Writing on the Wall Street Journal website, conservative commentator Peggy Noonan wrote that Bush was not impressive. “The president seemed tired, unsure and often bumbling. His answers were repetitive, and when he tried to clarify them he tended to make them worse. He did not seem prepared.” John Podesta head of the liberal think tank Center for American Progress said “President Bush sought to restore his credibility today and he clearly failed to do so.” We’ll hear excerpts of the interview in a few minutes.