On May 1, 2003, President George W. Bush said:

“My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended…In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.”

A banner above his head read:

“Mission Accomplished.”

At the time of these statements, 171 died in the war effort.

On April 30, 2004, President George W. Bush said:

“A year ago, I did give the speech from the carrier, saying that we had achieved an important objective, that we’d accomplished a mission, which was the removal of Saddam Hussein…”

Since May 1, 2003 738 Americans died, and 3,323 have been wounded.

President George W. Bush, in the State of the Union address on January 28, 2003, said:

“The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa. Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production…Our intelligence officials estimate that Saddam Hussein had the materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent.”

On March 17, 2003, President George W. Bush said:

“Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. The danger is clear: using chemical, biological or, one day, nuclear weapons, obtained with the help of Iraq, the terrorists could fulfill their stated ambitions and kill thousands or hundreds of thousands of innocent people in our country, or any other.”

The war in Iraq did not confirm the existence of any of the materials, or weapons, described by the President on January 28, 2003 or on March 17, 2003.

In reviewing the President’s performance as Commander in Chief, we must ask ourselves:

1. Are the words “we had achieved an important objective” the same as “major combat operations in Iraq have ended?” If major combat operations ended in May of 2003, why have 738 Americans died since May 1? If major combat operations ended in May of 2003, why have 3323 people been wounded since May 1? If major combat operations ended in May of 2003 why are we seeing images of bombs, gunfire, and mortar fire in Fallujah, Iraq?

The answer: Major combat operations did not end on May 1, 2003.

2. What did the President mean when he said, “Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised?” Did he mean that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that could be used against us? Did he mean that we needed to “oust” Saddam Hussein because he possessed and concealed some of the most lethal weapons ever devised? Did he mean to justify the war, because of the existence of these weapons?

Answer: Yes, but the war effort did not find uranium, the war effort did not find weapons of mass destruction, and the war effort did not find any chemical agent to produce weapons of mass destruction.

3. Was our “Mission Accomplished” when President Bush flew onto an aircraft carrier in a flight suit on May 1, 2003?

Answer: No, people are dying because major combat operations are continuing.

4. Which is the truth Mr. President?

A. Your statement of May 2003: “My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended…In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.”

or

B. Your statement of April 30, 2004: “A year ago, I did give the speech from the carrier, saying that we had achieved an important objective, that we’d accomplished a mission, which was the removal of Saddam Hussein…?”

or

C. The banner flying above your head saying “Mission Accomplished?”

Answer: None of the above, it is time for an apology, and the truth.

There is only one truth--we have a long way to go before we can say: Mission Accomplished.

Stuart James
Sjames139@comcast.net

When President Bush said that major combat operations had ended, and mission accomplished, he was referring to the defeat of Saddam’s army, the Iraqi military. A defined enemy and a defined objective. I do not see anything wrong with that.

As far as the WMD’s, Saddam had enough time between our resolution to stop his arrogance and mockery of the UN, and the time we went in, to hide or transfer the state of Rhode Island. Saddam stalled and stalled while we were trying to convince the UN to take a stand. I do recall several months of this nonsense while France, Germany, and our other so-called allies had their heads buried in the sand. You want to talk military casualties, try counting what Germany cost the world and what France owes the good ole USA for saving their hides.

Yes, we have had more casualties since the end of the “war.” Wars are fought between armies, that war is over. The Iraqi military no longer exists to carry out Saddam’s reign of terror. Now what we have are fanatical Muslims, taught to hate and kill anybody that is not a follower of their cult, conducting terrorist attacks and ambushes. These folks have lived this way for centuries, born and bred of violence. They are trying to disrupt the transition to a free Iraqi society, they have no separation between church and state.

To try and win over the Iraqi populace, our troops have been riding around in Humvees instead of tanks, a terrorists dream come true. In this instance, diplomacy has replaced common sense. Fallujah was a city with a defined enemy, diplomacy was out of the question, terrorist called the shots. We responded; a step closer to transition of power back to the Iraqi people.

By the way, President Bush did fly onto an aircraft carrier in a flight suit on May 1, 2003 (the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The trip was a genuine tribute to our brave military, the flight suit was, well, required while flying in a S-3B Viking from the Blue Wolves of Sea Control Squadron Three Five (VS-35).

Jack Varner
jackvarner@comcast.net

Jack Varner recently wrote the following in response to an article titled George W. Bush's 'Mission Accomplished':

“When President Bush said that major combat operations had ended, and mission accomplished, he was referring to the defeat of Saddam’s army, the Iraqi military. A defined enemy and a defined objective.”

Where in President’s speech did he state that we defeated Saddam’s army and the Iraqi military? The President was not referring to the defeat of any army—he was not referring to a limited victory, he was declaring the war in Iraq as “Mission Accomplished.” In declaring the “Mission Accomplished,” the President said:

“My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended…In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.”

While the President declared that the United States and our allies “had prevailed” a banner “flapping in the wind” read “Mission Accomplished.”

At the time the war against Iraq began, we had a defined enemy and a defined objective: Osama Bin laden.

All Iraq did was take our eyes off the prize, a prize worth fighting for…

With Bin Laden and his network still lurking around in our world, the mission is hardly accomplished.

Enough said….

Stuart James
Sjames139@comcast.net