Former President George WH Bush joins Twitter

George HW Bush has joined Twitter and in his first tweet the former US president said he wished he could have attended the memorial service for Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Bush, 89, who had a health scare a year ago, was the only one of the four former American presidents still living who did not attend Tuesday’s memorial service in Johannesburg. “Barbara and I wish we could have joined the U.S. delegation honoring President Mandela today. He, and his countrymen, are in our prayers,” Bush tweeted. [caption id=“attachment_1282985” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] US President George W. Bush’s father, George WH Bush  - the only former US president who is alive but didn’t attend Nelson Mandela’s memorial in South Africa - joined Twitter. Reuters[/caption] President Barack Obama led a delegation that included former presidents Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, Bush’s son. Clinton, who has grown close to the elder Bush while working together on Haiti earthquake relief and other projects, welcomed to Twitter the man he beat in the 1992 election. “Congratulations on joining Twitter, Mr. President! Easier than skydiving!” Clinton wrote, referring to Bush’s past habit of celebrating milestone birthdays by parachuting. Bush is the third current or former president to join Twitter, after Obama and Clinton. Carter and George W. Bush have yet to join the popular social media service. Reuters