Apr 30 2008
Happy Mission Accomplished Day
Let me be the first to wish you Happy Mission Accomplished Day. Tomorrow marks the fifth anniversary of the day that George W. Bush landed on the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared that major combat operations in Iraq were ended. Victory was ours.
White House admits fault on ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner
George W. BushWASHINGTON (AP) - The White House said Wednesday that President Bush has paid a price for the “Mission Accomplished” banner that was flown in triumph five years ago but later became a symbol of U.S. misjudgments and mistakes in the long and costly war in Iraq.
Thursday is the fifth anniversary of Bush’s dramatic landing in a Navy jet on an aircraft carrier homebound from the war. The USS Abraham Lincoln had launched thousands of airstrikes on Iraq.
“Major combat operations in Iraq have ended,” Bush said at the time. “The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that began on Sept. 11, 2001, and still goes on.” The “Mission Accomplished” banner was prominently displayed above him - a move the White House came to regret as the display was mocked and became a source of controversy.
After shifting explanations, the White House eventually said the “Mission Accomplished” phrase referred to the carrier’s crew completing its 10-month mission, not the military completing its mission in Iraq. Bush, in October 2003, disavowed any connection with the “Mission Accomplished” message. He said the White House had nothing to do with the banner; a spokesman later said the ship’s crew asked for the sign and the White House staff had it made by a private vendor.[..]
At least 49 U.S. troops died in Iraq in April, making it the deadliest month since September when 65 U.S. troops died.
Now in its sixth year, the war in Iraq has claimed the lives of at least 4,061 members of the U.S. military. Only the Vietnam War (August 1964 to January 1973), the war in Afghanistan (October 2001 to present) and the Revolutionary War (July 1776 to April 1783) have engaged America longer.
George W. Bush, May 1, 2003
The rich, spoiled and ignorant frat boy has been nothing but an embarrassment since the day he stole the presidency, and now the Republicans want to give us at least four more years of the same with John S. McCain.
Not gonna happen.
(P.S. If you can afford to do so, please click here to help MoveOn.org get the above ad on the air. People need to see it.)
One Response to “Happy Mission Accomplished Day”
With May Day traditionally recogised as the International Day of Labour, here’s something worth thinking about as is apropos the occasion.