One of Bush’s biggest problems - if not the biggest - was his willingness to be too nice and to trust the honorableness of his enemy.
This, alas, did nothing but make him look weak in the eyes of his enemies and confuse his friends.
Be harmless as doves, yes - but the first part of that line, is “be wise as serpents.” He wasn’t, alas.
“look weak in the eyes of his enemies ..”
I don’t think the enemy thought President Bush weak - Clinton, yes - but not Bush.