`Mission accomplished': Bush brag or Demo fib?

After weeks of Democratic assaults that President Bush was a nitwit for declaring "mission accomplished" in Iraq during his May 1 landing and victory speech on the USS Abraham Lincoln, the White House is bidding to set the story straight. The issue should be a simple one: Bush never uttered those words. "The president," argues communications boss Dan Bartlett, "said exactly the opposite: The mission continues." But Bush stood under a banner declaring "mission accomplished." Why? Bartlett says that the Lincoln's captain had the banner made up to thank his crew for the longest-ever carrier tour, not to declare the war over. "It is something the troops are really proud of," says Bartlett. "Of course they can hang the banner."

ed: this is a new one on me... i can't find any other reports saying anything like that as the reason for the banner. will the right run with this, or is it incorrect information? will/do either of those questions even matter? personally, i don't see how it fits in with this associated press report on exactly what lengths the administration went to in setting the scene on the carrier. as agonist member sj comments, and as i am in agreement with, they could have removed the banner if they wanted to.