Bernanke Starts to Cash In (Gets $250K to Speak in the United Arab Emirates)

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. central bank could have done more to fight the country's financial crisis and that he struggled to find the right way to communicate with markets, reports Reuters.

"We could have done some things on the margin to mitigate somewhat the crisis," Bernanke, 60, said on Tuesday in his first public speaking engagement since he stepped down in January after eight years heading the Fed.

"Although we have been very aggressive, I think on the monetary policy front we could have been even more aggressive."

Yup, that's right, Bernanke now thinks he should have printed even more money.This wasn't enough:

Bernanke received at least $250,000 for his appearance at the financial conference staged by National Bank of Abu Dhab, the UAE's largest bank, according to sources familiar the matter, reports Reuters.