President Bush declares Mission Accomplished
President George W. Bush Declares "Mission Accomplished"
May 1, 2003
On May 1, 2003, President George W. Bush stepped aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to inform the public that, "In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed". Bush stood under a banner that said "Mission Accomplished which became an infamous slogan that was the President's claim to fame. Bush recently returned from combat operations in the Persian Gulf and in the 3 minute speech, the President addresses the successful raid in Iraq defeating Saddam Hussein. The speech also noted that, "We have difficult work to do in Iraq. We are bringing order to parts of that country that remains dangerous...Our mission continues...The War on Terror continues, yet it is not endless. We do not know the day of the final victory, but we have seen the turning of the tide".
Although important messages were conveyed in the speech and the banner, created enormous controversy and criticism from the public eye. The overly theatrical and expensive stunt did not bid well, especially when guerrilla warfare in Iraq increased during the Iraqi insurgency along with the majority of casualties that happened after the speech.
The general impression created the symbol and image of the Bush administrations unrealistic goals, the slanted perception of war, and overconfidence throughout the war. The significance of the "Mission Accomplished" speech was the public criticism it created when President Bush stood under a hasty banner and many people thought Bush jumped the gun ten years early when he announced that the "mission was accomplished". Besides the criticism the speech and banner created, the speech also conveyed the confidence of the country under the President and the "end" of the war- at least in that moment.
May 1, 2003
On May 1, 2003, President George W. Bush stepped aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to inform the public that, "In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed". Bush stood under a banner that said "Mission Accomplished which became an infamous slogan that was the President's claim to fame. Bush recently returned from combat operations in the Persian Gulf and in the 3 minute speech, the President addresses the successful raid in Iraq defeating Saddam Hussein. The speech also noted that, "We have difficult work to do in Iraq. We are bringing order to parts of that country that remains dangerous...Our mission continues...The War on Terror continues, yet it is not endless. We do not know the day of the final victory, but we have seen the turning of the tide".
Although important messages were conveyed in the speech and the banner, created enormous controversy and criticism from the public eye. The overly theatrical and expensive stunt did not bid well, especially when guerrilla warfare in Iraq increased during the Iraqi insurgency along with the majority of casualties that happened after the speech.
The general impression created the symbol and image of the Bush administrations unrealistic goals, the slanted perception of war, and overconfidence throughout the war. The significance of the "Mission Accomplished" speech was the public criticism it created when President Bush stood under a hasty banner and many people thought Bush jumped the gun ten years early when he announced that the "mission was accomplished". Besides the criticism the speech and banner created, the speech also conveyed the confidence of the country under the President and the "end" of the war- at least in that moment.