Richard Lewis Takes On "Mission Accomplished"

As only a cynical comedian can:

McCain: For "Mission Accomplished" Before He Was Against It

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).

Five Years And We Don't Even Know What The Mission Is

Today is the five year mark since George Bush went to San Diego to stand on an aircraft carrier. He had it positioned specifically to make him look good. It was a dog and pony show that had him land on a fighter with his unearned flight suit on. The press loved it and most Americans cheered him on. The banner above his head, "Mission Accomplished" was supposed to look good for the day, but it has endured as a symbol of his failure as a President and his terrible decision to lead us into Iraq. Now that five years has passed since that day, things have only gotten worse, and we still have no idea what the mission is.

From The Huffington Post:

"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.

"President Bush is well aware that the banner should have been much more specific and said `mission accomplished' for these sailors who are on this ship on their mission," White House press secretary Dana Perino said Wednesday. "And we have certainly paid a price for not being more specific on that banner. And I recognize that the media is going to play this up again tomorrow, as they do every single year."

That's right, the media will play it up, but they should be talking about it every single day until we build up enough pressure to end the occupation of Iraq. The President likes to play politics with symbols, so he should have already gotten used to the majority of the country remembering what he has done to us by illegally starting a war with misleading propaganda and violating the Constitution. He may think it is unfair to continue to use that banner, but if life were fair, George would be in jail.

Pete Stark And The Smirking Chimp

This Is One To Watch

The music goes along with images and videos perfectly. It shows exactly what has happened in four years and a day since that "Mission Accomplished" banner hung up on the USS Abraham Lincoln: