Sept. 2: Relation between US President Barack Obama and his predecessor George W. Bush remains “awkward” and “non-existent,” according to a report. The two leaders spoke on Wednesday as Mr Obama announced the end of US operations in Iraq. The last conversation they had was in January when Mr Obama asked Mr Bush to raise money along with former President Bill Clinton for Haiti. “There is, of course, no obligation for presidents to keep in touch with their predecessors, and there is no evidence that Mr Obama and Mr Bush bear any ill will toward each other,” the New York Times said. “But their relations do seem particularly awkward — or, more precisely, non-existent.” NYT pointed out that the persisting coolness is probably due to the political environment, especially as Mr Obama blames the previous administration for saddling him with two wars and a bad economy. Although, he does not mention Mr Bush by name.

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“That can make for pretty short conversation,” the Times said, pointing out that the two men met at funeral of Senator Edward Kennedy in August 2009 but did not speak with each other then.

One “authentic conversation” did occur between Mr Bush and Mr Obama’s mother-in-law, who was sceptical about moving from Chicago to Washington, according to a Bush adviser. “I think President Bush pulled her aside and said, ‘It’s very important for your granddaughters, I think you ought to do that, this is the kind of life you can have here,’” the aide said.