George W. Bush and Michelle Obama share hug on stage
Former President George W. Bush and first lady Michelle Obama shared a hug on stage during the opening ceremony of the African American History Museum on Saturday, September 24.
I look at this picture. I remember his knee-bending, daunting stroll, wearing his flight suit, sauntering on board a USS Carrier.
~~THIS WAS 13 YEARS AGO~~
What have we seen since then? It’s worse now and the worst is yet to be. The appearance and strengthening of ISIS. The beheading of two American journalists and the threatening of a British one. Brace for more ….
“The 2003 Mission Accomplished speech gets its name from a banner that read “Mission Accomplished” displayed on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a televised address by United States President George W. Bush on May 1, 2003 and the controversy that followed.
Bush stated at the time that this was the end to major combat operations in Iraq. Bush’s assertion — and the sign itself — became controversial after guerrilla warfare in Iraq increased during the Iraqi insurgency. The vast majority of casualties, both military and civilian, occurred after the speech.
~~Description~~
On May 1, 2003, Bush became the first sitting President to make an arrested landing in a fixed-wing aircraft on an aircraft carrier when he arrived at the USS Abraham Lincoln in a Lockheed S-3 Viking, dubbed Navy One, as the carrier lay just off the San Diego coast, having returned from combat operations in the Persian Gulf. He posed for photographs with pilots and members of the ship’s crew while wearing a flight suit. A few hours later, he gave a speech announcing the end of major combat operations in the Iraq War. Far above him was the warship’s banner stating “Mission Accomplished.”
Bush was criticized for the historic jet landing on the carrier as an overly theatrical and expensive stunt. For instance, it was pointed out that the carrier was well within range of Bush’s helicopter, and that a jet landing was not needed. Originally the White House had stated that the carrier was too far off the California coast for a helicopter landing and a jet would be needed to reach it.
On the day of the speech, the Lincoln was only 30 miles (48 km) from shore but the administration still decided to go ahead with the jet landing. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer admitted that Bush “could have helicoptered, but the plan was already in place. Plus, he wanted to see a landing the way aviators see a landing.” The Lincoln made a scheduled stop in Pearl Harbor shortly before the speech, docked in San Diego after the speech, and returned to her home port in Everett, Washington on May 6, 2003.”
~~THIS WAS 13 YEARS AGO~~
“We have difficult work to do in Iraq. We are bringing order to parts of that country that remain dangerous.” “Our mission continues … The War on Terror continues, yet it is not endless. We do not know the day of final victory, but we have seen the turning of the tide.”
“In the Battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.”
~President George W. Bush~
Iraq War opponents have used the phrase “mission accomplished” in an ironic sense, while others have non-politically cited it as an example of a general public relations failure.
And now, the incredible worsening of the situation in a war-torn country thanks to the U.S. of A.
“Oddly enough, this video is very rare on the web, so I decided to post it. This is a just a reminder of what a dumb f*ck President Bush was. Actually, I shouldn’t say he WAS a dumb ass, he still IS.”
In July 2000, Cheney was chosen by presumptive Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush as his running mate in the 2000 presidential election. They defeated their Democratic opponents, incumbent Vice President Al Gore and Senator Joe Lieberman. In 2004 Cheney was reelected to his second term as Vice President; defeating Senator John Kerry’s running mate, Senator John Edwards.
During Cheney’s tenure as Vice President, he played a lead behind the scenes role in Bush Administration’s response to the September 11 attacks and coordination of the War on Terror. He was an early proponent of the Iraq War and defender of the Administration’s record on terrorism. He became at odds with the views of President Bush for his support of gay marriage in 2004. Cheney was often criticized for the Bush Administration’s policies regarding the War on Terror, NSA Wiretapping and “Enhanced interrogation techniques.”
Just another traveler on life's highway hanging out in the slow lane. It's quiet, it's peaceful. Beyond the horizon is rest calling my name. Green pastures, still waters, my cup runneth over.
