Bush remarks on "mission accomplished" banner embarrass White House

Agence France-Presse | 10/30/03

[kattracks]

A banner proclaiming "mission accomplished" on the aircraft carrier where President George W. Bush declared an end to major combat in Iraq came back to haunt him as the death toll rises.

Bush's attempt to explain the banner at a press conference Tuesday only heightened the controversy, with the White House attempting to dig itself out.

"What (the president) said was that it was put up by the Navy, by people on board the ship and that was correct," his spokesman Scott McClellan said Wednesday.

"It was an idea that was suggested by those on the ship as a way to honor the sailors and crew on board the USS Lincoln for accomplishing their mission."

He acknowledged however: "The Navy asked us to take care of the production of the banner."

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, asked by reporters about the incident, called it "one of the most significant embarrassments of the entire Iraq experience so far.

"We've lost more lives since (Bush) declared victory than we lost prior to the time we declared victory. And this latest fabrication is yet another illustration of their (the Republican administration's) unwillingness to except reality."

The administration "said that the Navy called for it, and that was a fabrication because they then later acknowledged that it was the White House who created the banner," said Daschle.

At a news conference Tuesday, Bush remarked that the "Mission Accomplished" sign "of course, was put up by the members of the USS Abraham Lincoln, saying that their mission was accomplished. I know it was attributed some how to some ingenious advance man from my staff -- they weren't that ingenious, by the way."

The remarks drew some questions about the term "mission accomplished," which at the time was interpreted in some quarters as closing the entire war in Iraq which started in March and brought the fall of Saddam Hussein in April.

Asked if Bush had misled people by appearing in front of the banner, McClellan said "the Navy put it up and it was the Navy at the -- asked us to take care of the production of the banner. And we said that yesterday."

"Our advance staff works closely with people on all events that the president is involved in," he noted.

Asked if Bush had disavowed the idea that the mission was accomplished at that time, McClellan said: "The mission for the sailors and crew on board the ship was accomplished. There are some continuing objectives we have on the security front, on the reconstruction front, on the political front."

[kattracks]

Apparently, AFP lost something in the translation.

The mission of the crew of the USS Lincoln had been accomplished.

Of course, they would much rather bash President Bush. They have little else to write about as far as Franc's non existant "accomplishments" go.

[GeronL]

I think they know exactly what they're doing

[dighton]

AgenceFubarPukes.com.

Sod the lot.

[kattracks]

Of course they do. They are desperate for anything to paint President Bush in a bad light.

They have to, he showed them up for the weakling, second rate country they are.

[Qwinn]

"which at the time was interpreted in some quarters as closing the entire war in Iraq which started in March and brought the fall of Saddam Hussein in April."

I think anybody as moronic as to make this interpretration deserves to go throughout life confused and befuddled with absolutely no apologies necessary from anyone. Particularly when he specifically said otherwise during the speech.

Qwinn

[bjcintennessee]

What a crock! Wonder if they consult with the US media for the best ways to misinterpret and/or outright lie about every single word and deed by our president.

[FairOpinion]

If they would only listened to what Bush actually SAID, instead of reading things into a banner.

Bush never said "mission accomplished".

Here is what he really said: President Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended (FLASHBACK: what he REALLY said)

And the mission of removing Saddam was indeed accomplished. Saddam is definitely not in charge in Iraq.

[FairOpinion]

"We have difficult work to do in Iraq. We're bringing order to parts of that country that remain dangerous. We're pursuing and finding leaders of the old regime, who will be held to account for their crimes.

The transition from dictatorship to democracy will take time, but it is worth every effort. Our coalition will stay until our work is done. Then we will leave, and we will leave behind a free Iraq. (Applause.)

Our mission continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. "
"

[FairOpinion]

Another article from May 1, 2003. Somebody should help Daschle improve his comprehension skills.

CNN News: Bush speech to avoid declaration of victory in Iraq. Remarks to tout military success, but cite work ahead.

May 1, 2003

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush touts the "liberation of Iraq" in a speech he will deliver Thursday night from the deck of an aircraft carrier, but he warns that "difficult work" remains and that the broader war against terrorism continues.

In the speech, Bush will declare that major combat is over in Iraq, but stop short of a formal declaration of victory, according to White House aides.

[FairOpinion]

[Keith in Iowa]

You forgot the "Cheese Eating Surrender Monke-triple bag barf alert" with this one...

Has anyone else noticed that the only ones saying the "Mission Accomplished" banner and "major combat operations are over" from Bush's speech on deck were synonyms for "the war is over" are the Lib-stream media and the Demon-rats?

[FairOpinion]

Daschle:""We've lost more lives since (Bush) declared victory than we lost prior to the time we declared victory."

From Islamofashist website Khilafah.com:

"On May 1, President George W. Bush held a blusterous press conference aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln to declare an end to the war in Iraq. Since then, more U.S. troops have died than during the actual invasion. The peace has been more dangerous than the war. As each body bag arrives home, at least another family decides not to vote to re-elect Bush in 2004, and several others feel betrayed by the claims of easy victory offered by the Bush clique shortly before the war began."

http://www.khilafah.com/home/category.php?DocumentID=8549&TagID=2

Do you think the terrorists are using Daschle's talking points or is Daschle using the Terrorists' talking points?

[RandallFlagg]

Heh! I'm getting into it at another forum with a leftist who said this:

It isn't nitpicking.

It supports the central theme of this Presidential Administration.

LIE.LIE.LIE

Lie to go to war, lie to say its done, lie about the cost, lie about the CIA/White House leak, lie about the casualties taken by civilians, lie about the Patriot Act, lie about the 9-11 intel, lie about the economy getting better, lie about the sign saying "mission....

In short its all perception management. Straight from Sociology 101.

Perception management is: ..........................................
A. look at this photo-op I am presenting to you today. (forget the lies I told you yesterday)

B. look at what I am holding in my hand in front of me. (don't look at the hand hidden behind my back)

C. Don't pay attention how many times I changed my answer to essentially the same question.

question- why did we invade Iraq?

answers over the months-

to liberate Iraq
to get of the evil dictator
to get rid of nuclear weapons
to get rid of chemical weapons
to get rid of biological weapons
to fight terror on their soil not ours
Saddam used chemicals on his own people (when he was a US ally)
bring up image of 9-11 towers blowing up
to defend freedom
to bring democracy to the world

thats ten answers the Bush people changed each time when it suited them or when some other answer was provn wrong.

Metallica Message Board

Don't worry. I cleaned his clock...

[Fledermaus]

I know. This is the best the left wing can do? Complain about two words? I guess since the 16 words in the SOTU failed them, they had to dumb down their protest so more of their voters could understand.

But I have to admit I thought the WH was lame in their response. First, I just wouldn't have responded. Second, if I did, I wouldn't have said "it was their idea". I would have been truthful and just said that we just toppled one of the most evil governments on the planet with less casualties in history and every single prediction of doom and gloom before the war was wrong. We finally enforced the UN resolutions that the UN itself didn't have the cajones to accomplish.

Then I'd explain how, in that victory, we wanted to praise the troops and the USS Lincoln was the best example to show how our young men and women defend us all from the death of terrorist.

But being me, I'd then flip the bird and tell the libs to go to hell! ;-)

[raisincane]

"The mission of the crew of the USS Lincoln had been accomplished."

I remember that the USS Lincoln was on its way home months before removing Sadam. It was ordered to turn around and head back to the gulf. USS Lincoln's crew deserved an ovation, and, their mission was accomplished as their sign depicted. The dims just hate our great President.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

This "mission accomplished" blather is just another distraction fueled by the media that lets the democrats off the hook for being pathetically weak on national security issues. The left and their media enablers are suffering from a severe case of "mission envy".

The press gives the 9 dwarfs a free pass to whine about a banner on an aircraft carrier rather than tell America their "plan" to combat international islamic terrorism. It's demeaning to our soldiers, sailors, and airmen who are risking their life in Iraq protecting our freedom and liberty.

[bushfamfan]

The President responded to the 'mission accomplished' banner when he was asked directly about it in his press conference.

[Redleg Duke]

Interesting how just in the past couple of days, leftist propaganda, totally unfounded, but with similar themes has been printed.