Despite What the Left Wants to Believe, the Mission Was Accomplished

Today is the 5th anniversary of President Bush's famous carrier landing aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and the victory speech given at the end of major combat operations in Iraq. Had it not been for one banner hanging on the ship's island behind the president, that speech probably wouldn't be much remembered today. However, the "Mission Accomplished" banner has become a source of entertainment for the antiwar left who refuse to acknowledge the real meaning behind that banner. It was not celebrating the end of the war, but the end of the Lincoln's 10 month deployment. The Lincoln's mission was accomplished:

WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House said Wednesday that President Bush has paid a price for the "Mission Accomplished" banner that was flown in triumph five years ago but later became a symbol of U.S. misjudgments and mistakes in the long and costly war in Iraq.

Thursday is the fifth anniversary of Bush's dramatic landing in a Navy jet on an aircraft carrier homebound from the war. The USS Abraham Lincoln had launched thousands of airstrikes on Iraq.

"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."

The Democrats are planning a day long temper tantrum today with floor speeches and press conferences, all of which demonstrate their inability to understand the simple concept behind the banner, but that's to be expected. Context is not their friend.

I've been watching the PBS special "Carrier" which has been running for two hours each night since Sunday. So far I've seen the first four hours, and it's given me a better understanding of why the crew was so glad to declare their "mission accomplished". The show certainly does not paint a pretty picture of life aboard an aircraft carrier - it shows how tough it is and what it's like to work 12 hours a day, every day, on a boat with over 5,000 people and a major airport on the roof.

This is no Navy recruiting film or "Top Gun"-type movie which glorifies life in the Navy or aboard ship. In fact, I'll be some potential recruits will be scared away from a life at sea after seeing this series. It's an eye-opener for someone like me who has only seen carrier life in movies or documentaries that have tended to gloss over the dirty work.

It's surprising how young most of the people aboard the carrier are. There are kids 18-21 handling some of the most dangerous and critical jobs aboard ship. They also get the grunt work, and spending 12 hours a day cleaning restrooms doesn't look like much fun. Those are the scenes that may give pause to the next batch of high school graduates looking for some Navy experience.

If you missed the series, PBS will have it out on DVD right away and it can be pre-ordered by clicking on the Amazon link at the left. I'm going to buy this one. It gives you a real slice of carrier life from the most junior seaman to the ship's captain. Good stuff.