Did Bush say that MAJOR combat operations were over, or did he not?

rocktivity

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:09 PM
Original message

Did Bush say that MAJOR combat operations were over, or did he not?

Edited on Sat Nov-08-03 01:12 PM by rocknation

I watched Operation Mission Accomplished live, and I don't believe he did. But I definitely remember seeing posts here complaining that the online transcript of his speech had been scrubbed. Does anyone know once and for all?

rocknation

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gristy

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:10 PM
Response to Original message

1. I'm sure there are transcripts available all over the place.

Find one and get back to us.

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NicoleM

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:12 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Transcripts

can be edited. I'm pretty sure the White House transcript has the "major" in it, but I don't know if they added it after the fact.

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CityZen-X

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:20 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. Whitehowzen Transcript

I believe the Whitehowzen Transcript now reads "major Wombat Operations!"

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LittleApple81

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:14 PM
Response to Original message

3. As far as I remember, he always had in the text of the speech.

However, they did NOT have it in the heading of the transcript in the White House pages and added that later. Several DUers found "screen shots" of the before and after speech heading.

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rocktivity

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:18 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. That's exactly why I prefer to know what he actually SAID

If I hadn't watched the speech, that would be one thing. But I did, and I'm fairly sure he didn't say "major." But maybe he did!

rocknation

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Angelus

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:22 PM
Response to Original message

6. I remember seeing that speech...

all over the news May 1, and he did say major combat was over. what an idiot that dubya is.

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Spazito

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:25 PM
Response to Original message

7. Here is a link to the US Embassy Islamabad with what Bush said...

http://islamabad.usembassy.gov/wwwh03050201.html

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Melsky

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:25 PM
Response to Original message

8. I'm not sure about the speach

but here is a link with info on them changing the headlines to say major, after the fact!

http://www.thememoryhole.org/pol/iraq-combat/

The memory hole is a great site for DUers.

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VolcanoJen

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:29 PM
Response to Original message

9. Here ya go rocknation - from the White House site

Here's the official transcript of the May 1, 2003 speech, taken from the White House website. It's even titled

President Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended

Couldn't really ask for more than that, huh?

THE PRESIDENT: 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. (Applause.) And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country.

- Jennifer :D

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gristy

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:30 PM
Response to Original message

10. I bought the NY TImes article covering the carrier speach

Here's an excerpt:

May 2, 2003, Friday

FOREIGN DESK

AFTEREFFECTS: THE PRESIDENT; Bush Declares 'One Victory in a War on Terror'
By DAVID E. SANGER (NYT)

SAN DIEGO, May 1 -- President Bush declared tonight that the military phase of the battle to topple Saddam Hussein's government was "one victory in a war on terror that began on Sept. 11th, 2001, and still goes on."

snip

Mr. Bush did not declare final victory tonight as the sailors of the Lincoln, some in blue work uniforms and others in dress whites, assembled on the four-and-a-half-acre flight deck at dusk. Much remained to be done, he said, in rebuilding Iraq, and he promised that allied forces would stay as long as necessary.

White House officials said they did not want to declare a final end to the war, in part because that would require them, under the Geneva Convention, to release more than 6,000 prisoners of war, many of whom are still being interviewed.

Still, he told the sailors and fliers that "major combat operations in Iraq have ended," and that "in the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."

Earlier in the day, in a visit to the carrier that the White House arranged for maximum political effect, it was hard to tell Mr. Bush from the troops he was visiting. He landed on the carrier in a Navy jet that the president, a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard three decades ago, helped pilot. The image of the president surrounded by beaming sailors was an image that White House officials clearly intend to use in the 2004 presidential campaign.

In his speech, Mr. Bush argued that the invasion and liberation of Iraq was part of the American response to the attacks of Sept. 11. He called the tumultuous period since those attacks "19 months that changed the world," and said Mr. Hussein's defeat was a defeat for Al Qaeda and other terrorists as well.

"The liberation of Iraq is a crucial advance in the campaign against terror," he said. "We have removed an ally of Al Qaeda, and cut off a source of terrorist funding. And this much is certain: no terrorist network will gain weapons of mass destruction from the Iraqi regime, because that regime is no more."

Mr. Bush did more this evening than simply meld Mr. Hussein's fallen government with Qaeda terrorists. He both restated and amplified the "Bush doctrine," the aggressive commitment his administration has made to confront major threats before they reach American shores.

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VolcanoJen

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:37 PM
Response to Original message

11. And, by the way, MSNBC just reported that US war planes are bombing...

... targets for the first time since Bush declared an end to major combat operations on May 1st...

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rocktivity

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Sat Nov-08-03 01:41 PM
Response to Original message

12. So I was wrong

Edited on Sat Nov-08-03 01:42 PM by rocknation

which, unlike the Preztel-Dunce, I'm willing to admit. ;)

But actually, that means his saying "major" makes him look even worse--unless you consider what's been going on "minor" combat by a "handful" of disgruntled "insurgents"!

rocknation

On edit: Thank you.

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wabeewoman

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Sat Nov-08-03 07:40 PM
Response to Reply #12

17. No, you weren't wrong rocknation

It orginally said President Bush announces combat operations in Iraq have ended. See Memory Hole. Also I remember it happening and it gripes me EVERYTIME someone uses major which they always do.

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eleny

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Sat Nov-08-03 07:49 PM
Response to Reply #12

18. He sure does look worse

There's really no wiggle room for him at this point. Btw, when did he say "Bring em on"? If it was after the carrier landing speech, then ugh. He'll just say he resumed major combat but didn't tell us. I don't put anything passed them at this point.

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JackSwift

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Sat Nov-08-03 02:05 PM
Response to Original message

13. Yeah, we won back in May and it's been double plus good

ever since.

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bridge

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Sat Nov-08-03 02:50 PM
Response to Original message

14. Yeah, he did...he had to cause as Commander-in- Chief...

major ops had to be declared over before the 3 or 4 carrier battle groups we had in the area could be redeployed (that kind of firepower isn't necessary for an assymetrical situation like the one going on now)...

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newyawker99

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Sat Nov-08-03 06:42 PM
Response to Reply #14

15. Hi bridge!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

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Raenelle

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Sat Nov-08-03 07:05 PM
Response to Reply #14

16. and that pledge not to eat candy--he had to get out from under that

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alcuno

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Sat Nov-08-03 08:16 PM
Response to Original message

19. He not only said it, he believed it.

Nothin else can explain his shameful display.

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