Former President George W. Bush was wrong to come out and criticize so-called isolationalist ideas of the current president, according to retired U.S. Air Force Col. Jim Waurishuk.

Waurishuk, speaking on “The Laura Ingraham Show” on Friday morning, said he was baffled as to why Bush, who was silent for eight years while President Barack Obama served, spoke out now.

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In a major public speech in New York on Thursday, Bush said the American people need to “remember our values” and to reject “casual cruelty.” Ingraham said the remarks seemed aimed at Trump.

“My first thought was, ‘Why is he doing this?'” said Waurishuk. “I served under [Bush]. I served all my tours in Iraq and Afghanistan under that president. I was extremely disappointed in the fact that he came out and made that speech at all … Where was he during the previous eight years? … [Obama’s] administration seemed to be totally disengaged from America’s resolve, America’s role in the world.”

Col. Waurishuk is a former National Security Council staffer. He served as deputy director for intelligence for U.S. Central Command during the peak years of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the war on terrorism.

Waurishuk said Bush’s speech was badly timed, as Trump is trying to reassert America’s leadership role in the world. Bush seemed to be pushing a passive role in the global order, he said — not advocating strong leadership and “America First” policies, as Trump has done.

“We are trying to reintegrate America, put America back as a leader in the world,” said Waurishuk. “Pushing the globalist rhetoric was extremely disappointing to me.”

Waurishuk defended retired Gen. John Kelly, the White House chief of staff, in defending the president and going on the attack against Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.).

Kelly came out and spoke to the White House press corps on Thursday, blasting Wilson for suggesting Trump was insensitive in a Tuesday call to the widow of a fallen Army soldier from South Florida.

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Waurishuk said Kelly likely needed no prodding from Trump to come out and defend the president.

“This president probably more than any other president, certainly in my time … has surrounded himself with more combat-proven military leaders and general officers,” said Waurishuk. “He has their advice and he seeks their advice, and their advice is there when he needs it. So to say this president was insensitive in dealing with a casualty notification or a condolence call … is unfathomable.”