[july4thfreedomfoundation]

That “Mission Accomplished” banner was put on display on the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln prior to a televised speech given by George W. Bush on the ship on May 1, 2003.
The speech announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq. The guerilla war soon followed.

I always understood that it was the sailors who placed the banner on display, prior to George W’s visit.

[VRWCmember]

The speech announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq. The guerilla war soon followed.

The "end of major combat operations" was MENTIONED in passing in the speech, but was not the subject of the speech. Bush's appearance on the Lincoln, and the occasion for the speech, was the retirement of the ship.

[meandog]

To: VRWCmember That “Mission Accomplished” banner was put on display on the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln prior to a televised speech given by George W. Bush on the ship on May 1, 2003. The speech announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq. The guerilla war soon followed.
I always understood that it was the sailors who placed the banner on display, prior to George W’s visit.

Except the actual banner came courtesy of the White House! In every way possible, whether it actually came from a request from the crew of the Lincoln or suggested to them by the WH, it was a major screw up. The mission had just begun, not accomplished as major battles (Fallujah, Kirkuk, and the defeat of Al Qaeda in Iraq) hadn't even started...Bush was ill-served by his aides in landing as a jet passenger on a Navy carrier in a uniformed Navy flight suit rather than taking a helo out dressed in a business suit and looking presidential. In short it was a stunt!