As we mourn this fifth anniversary of George Bush's "Mission Accomplished" photo-op disaster, the nation must remember that just because George Bush won't be here for the sixth anniversary, that doesn't mean someone like John McCain will ensure that there will be many more reasons to remember we went to Iraq.
As we look again at the symbolic Pyrrhic victory banner that George Bush had hoisted above him five years ago, it is always good to see what the candidates have to say about it. Both Senators Obama and Clinton repudiate that moment and highlight the callousness of our President for his outrageous show of hubris that day. John McCain however, is a bit more of a waffler.
From The Huffington Post:
....McCain himself defended the banner in June 2003 on Fox News:NEIL CAVUTO (host): Senator -- after a conflict means after the conflict, and many argue the conflict isn't over.McCAIN: Well, then why was there a banner that said mission accomplished on the aircraft carrier? Look, the -- I have said a long time that reconstruction of Iraq would be a long, long, difficult process, but the conflict -- the major conflict is over, the regime change has been accomplished, and it's very appropriate.
And on May 22, 2003 -- just three weeks after Bush spoke on the aircraft carrier -- McCain offered a mission accomplished speech of his own. On the Senate floor, McCain proclaimed "massive victory" in Iraq and credited combat-readiness for "our victory" in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Now of course he says that the banner was a mistake but still won't blame George Bush for the blunder. He is just saying whatever it takes to appease whomever is left in Bush's camp while trying (poorly) not to be an exact copy of the President. The problem is, Xerox couldn't do a better job of McCain's posturing these days. He is still a proponent of a war that is failing everyone involved (thats usually how wars work).
|