| This is re-writing history. Edit: John McCain thought "Mission Accomplished" meant "End of War" too: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/story?id=4769254&pag... If a speech says "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended" and "The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that began on September the 11, 2001 -- and still goes on" and "We're helping to rebuild Iraq, where the dictator built palaces for himself, instead of hospitals and schools. And we will stand with the new leaders of Iraq as they establish a government of, by, and for the Iraqi people" the message is pretty clear: the Iraq war was over. Yes, the crew allegedly asked for the sign to be made, but Bush's speech was about the "end of major combat operations in Iraq". Speeches to thank aircraft carrier crews for their missions aren't nationally televised, but that speech was. There was no doubt in national media at that time what the mission was that had been accomplished. Here's administration member Richard Perle writing in USA Today about that: It ended quickly with few civilian casualties and with little damage to Iraq’s cities, towns, or infrastructure….It ended without the quagmire [war critics] predicted….Iraqis are freer today and we are safer. Relax and enjoy it.[1] If anyone thinks a carefully choreographed performance[2] like this didn't also consider the banner. Here's the archived speech[3] where is says: Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. (Applause.) And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country. Your quote is later, where he makes clear there are other battles elsewhere ("Al Qaeda... still operate in many nations".) [1] https://archives.cjr.org/short_takes/mission_revisited.php [2] https://www.mediamatters.org/laura-ingraham/mission-accompli... [3] https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/20... |