Don't get me wrong, the Iraq war is a criminal obscenity; whether or not * said the word "major" seems somewhat irrelevant. I would interpret the 128 dead GIs this April alone in Iraq as pretty "major."
Just want to make sure we have the facts right before running with this. Anyone have access to an audio file of *'s actual 5/1/03 speech? That would be the final word. Literally.
The Department of State link below:
http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/rm/c9181.htmoffers the following:
"--05/01/03 President Bush
Announces Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended ; President George W. Bush; USS Abraham Lincoln; At Sea Off the Coast of San Diego, California"
BUT, when you click on this to get the full text of *'s speech
http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/rm/20203.htmone can read:
"Thank you all very much. Admiral Kelly, Captain Card, officers and sailors of the USS Abraham Lincoln,
my fellow Americans: Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country..."
<snip>
I can't link to the UP release below, as I located it on Lexis-Nexis. It's dated April 30 -- the day **before** the PR stunt. Would the press have added the word "major" in advance of the speech? I would urge anyone who has access to Lex-Nex to do the same.
Copyright 2003 U.P.I.
United Press International
April 30, 2003 Wednesday
LENGTH: 1011 words
HEADLINE: Analysis: Bush - No war, nor peace
BYLINE: By NICHOLAS M. HORROCK
DATELINE: WASHINGTON, April 30 (UPI)
BODY:
There has always been a dubious reading of history in the Bush administration, sort of like a History Channel documentary with lots of images and some quick analysis.
President George W. Bush Thursday will step to the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln
to announce the end of "major combat operations" in Iraq as the giant aircraft carrier sails toward its home port of San Diego.
The plan has the ring of the public relations department. The Abraham Lincoln's aircraft opened hostilities against Iraq and somebody remembered the unconditional Japanese surrender that ended World War II was signed on the decks of the Battleship Missouri that had led the long march to Tokyo.
<snip>