wikipedia | On May 1, 2003, Bush became the first sitting President to make an arrested landing in a fixed-wing aircraft on an aircraft carrier[3][4] 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.[5] 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."[6] 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.
The S-3 that served as "Navy One" was retired from service and placed on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida on July 17, 2003. The museum makes it clear that Bush was a passenger – not the pilot – of the plane.[1]
While Bush trained and served as a jet pilot in the Air National Guard
flying F-102 fighter-interceptors, he was never trained to land on a
carrier.
The banner stating "Mission Accomplished" was a focal point of controversy and criticism. Navy Commander and Pentagon
spokesman Conrad Chun said the banner referred specifically to the
aircraft carrier's 10-month deployment (which was the longest deployment
of a carrier since the Vietnam War) and not the war itself, saying "It truly did signify a mission accomplished for the crew."[7]
The White House
claimed that the banner was requested by the crew of the ship, who did
not have the facilities for producing such a banner. Afterward, the
administration and naval sources stated that the banner was the Navy's
idea, White House staff members made the banner, and it was hung by the
U.S. Navy personnel. White House spokesman Scott McClellan told CNN, "We took care of the production of it. We have people to do those things. But the Navy actually put it up."[8] According to John Dickerson of Time magazine,
the White House later conceded that they hung the banner but still
insists it had been done at the request of the crew members.[9]
Whether meant for the crew or not, the general impression created by
the image of Bush under the banner has been criticized as premature,
especially later as the guerrilla war began. Subsequently, the White
House released a statement saying that the sign and Bush's visit
referred to the initial invasion of Iraq. Bush's speech noted:
- "We have difficult work to do in Iraq. We are bringing order to parts of that country that remain dangerous."[10]
- "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."
The speech also said that:
- "In the Battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."[10]
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