Mission Confused

Check out this quote from Tim Russert:

"I was quite taken by three words the president uttered: the war 'can be won.' What a far cry that is from 'mission accomplished.'"

-- Tim Russert, quoted by The Hotline, on President Bush's address this morning.

Democrats have been having kittens over the "Mission Accomplished" banner on the Abraham Lincoln ever since Bush arrived aboard the ship in his fighter pilot flight suit. And as is often the case, they are unable to put things into any type of historical perspective. Why was that banner there in the first place?

The United States and coalition forces had just completed their mission which was to oust Saddam Hussein and take over the country of Iraq. The mission given to our forces at that time, and the mission of the Abraham Lincoln itself, was in fact accomplished. There was nothing inaccurate about that banner.

Of course, in retrospect, we know the war was won but the peace is still in jeopardy. Bush and his team have never been good about making that point, but instead have found themselves on constant defense. Had they framed the discussion properly from the beginning, and adequately explained why that banner was there in the first place, Tim Russert wouldn't be pondering such deep thoughts today.