President George W. Bush says he regrets sending the wrong impression of the United States by using blunt phrases in the past and has pledged to be more diplomatic.
In an interview with ABC's Barbara Walters to be broadcast today, Mr Bush said some of his past remarks during his first term were too blunt.
"'Bring it on,' was a little blunt," the president said in a transcript of the interview. "I remember when I talked about Osama bin Laden, I said we're going to get him dead or alive. I guess it's not the most diplomatic of language," Mr Bush said.
The president in July 2003 used the phrase "Bring 'em on" when speaking of insurgent attacks on US forces in Iraq. The comment was widely interpreted as a challenge to the insurgents but Mr Bush said his intent was to rally US troops.
Days after the September 11th, 2001, attacks, Mr Bush said he wanted to catch Osama bin Laden "dead or alive," a phrase that reinforced the US president's international image as a cowboy.
Mr Bush said his wife, Laura, disapproved and "chewed me out right after that.
"So I do have to be cautious about, you know, conveying thoughts in a way maybe that doesn't send wrong impressions about our country," he said.
Asked about bin Laden, who remains at large, Mr Bush reiterated his vow to "bring him to justice."
Mr Bush's expressions of regret over his use of language contrasted with his comments at a news conference in April 2004, when he struggled for an answer to a reporter who asked him to name his biggest mistake since the September 11th attacks.
In another mea culpa, the president said he felt his administration had done a poor job bolstering its image in the Muslim world.
"Our public diplomacy efforts aren't . . . very robust, and aren't very good, compared to the public diplomacy efforts of those who would like to spread hatred and . . . and vilify the United States," Mr Bush said.
But he said he thought US efforts to aid victims of the December 26th Indian Ocean tsunami would help improve Washington's image abroad.
Turning to domestic politics, Mr Bush played down expectations that his brother Jeb, who is governor of Florida, would someday run for president. "I don't think he's interested in running," the president said.