Today is the fifth anniversary of George W. Bush's appearance on the aircraft carrier to announce "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq - a milestone, surely.
U.S. Troops Killed: 2003 - 139; 2008 - 4063
U.S. Troops Wounded: 2003 - 542; 2008 - 29,000
From Greg Mitchell at the Huffington Post:
Feel free to dust off all the great quotes from that day, such as Chris Matthews gushing over Bush, "He won the war. He was an effective commander. Everybody recognizes that, I believe, except a few critics." As Bush spoke before the Mission Accomplished banner, American casualties stood at 139 killed and 542 wounded. That was nearly 4000 lives lost ago, and a Rand Corp. study released this month reveals that we now have 300,000 vets with mental problems of some sort.
Just to remind you: The jet landing with Bush emerging in his flight suit and cod piece, it turned out, was a pure stunt. The White House had said that the Abraham Lincoln was too far offshore for the usual helicopter landing, but when the big moment arrived the carrier was only 30 miles off San Diego, an easy trip by copter.
Yes, "a pure stunt". That covers it. At the time, I had a brief quarrel/disagreement with my neighbor, because I said that I thought that Bush looked like a buffoon. My neighbor protested vigorously, saying that it was a great moment for Bush and for the troops and that it would serve to boost their morale immeasurably.
Our president in his great moment.
No, you were right, it was a stunt and a poor one at that.
ReplyDeleteIt's also the anniversary of the dedication of The Empire State Building.
I have a "Mission Accomplished" Bush doll with lots of fiddly little fittings. It stands, still in its original box (it will be collectible one day, though almost certainly not in my lifetime) along with my Bobble-head Bush and my Bobble-head Jesus.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Jesus!
TheMe, today seems to be sort of an anniversary of the phallus and its symbols.
ReplyDeleteLapin, I'm afraid to ask about the fiddly little fittings.
ReplyDeleteThat's wise, Mimi, but why post this when I'm about to take my BP, hah?
ReplyDeleteBy "Kentucky Windage" I oughta be able to adjust it down to near normal! I didna think of it that way. Woooo Hooo! T'anks, Mimi!
Johnieb, I had to look up "Kentucky windage". If it works for you, it works for me.
ReplyDeleteI am just happy to have gone five years without having to think about that photo showing the area where his penis is supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteLindy, it's obscene, isn't it? But it was all over the media as proof that he was a manly man. This is the "hero" who "disappeared" from the Air National Guard, without serving his full time and yet received an honorable discharge.
ReplyDeleteYeah, mission accomplished. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
ReplyDeleteWell, if the "mission" was to prove that he's got a bulge then, yeah, mission accomplished.
ReplyDeleteI have to stop thinking about it.
Jan, from the get-go he was not too swift. On the other hand, perhaps he is swifter than we know. He fooled a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteLindy, I'm sorry I put it up. It's a terrible picture. How do we know he wasn't "enhanced"?