Lynn C. Woolsey: “exactly 3 years ago yesterday, President Bush gave his speech about the military operations in Iraq and said they had…”

“exactly 3 years ago yesterday, President Bush gave his speech about the military operations in Iraq and said they had become ``Mission Accomplished.'' Why was this speech important? Because in a single stroke, it revealed more about the President and his administration than all of his other speeches combined. Paying attention to the news, you will recall how on that day President Bush, adorned in a fighter pilot suit, rode shotgun in a military jet that landed on the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, and a massive banner declaring ``Mission Accomplished'' was brashly displayed in the background during his subsequent speech. It seemed like a bold act put on by a President who wanted to be perceived as taking bold steps against our Nation's enemies. But nothing had actually been accomplished to that point. The problem is that the ``mission'' in Iraq was not accomplished 3 years ago, and it certainly hasn't been accomplished today, which makes the military jet landing and ensuing speech 3 years ago far short of bold. It was a grandly staged political stunt, pure and simple. Let us talk about ``Mission Accomplished.'' For whom exactly is this mission accomplished? Is the mission accomplished for our troops, many of whom have returned home from Iraq forever changed as a result of the physical and mental trauma they endured during years of repeated deployment to Iraq?…”