"Mission Accomplished"... NOT!

Three years ago today (May 1, 2003) Dubya stood on a US Aircraft carrier, perched underneath a banner that read “Mission Accomplished” and made an announcement that sent cheers across the country. That annoucement was that “Major combat operations have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.”

He was wrong.

Borrowed from Think Progress, here’s a handy by-the-numbers chart that looks at Iraq then... and now...

U.S. Troops Wounded: May 1, 2003: 542 / May 1, 2006: 17,469

U.S. Troops Killed: May1, 2003: 139 / May 1, 2006: 2,400

Size of U.S. Forces: May 1, 2003: 150,000 / May 1, 2006: 132,000

Size of Iraqi Security Forces: May 1, 2003: 7,000-9000 / May 1, 2006: 250,500

Number of Insurgents: May 1, 2003: 5,000 / May 1, 2006: 15,000-20,000

Insurgent Attacks Per Day: May 1, 2003: 8 / May 1, 2006: 75

Cost to U.S. Taxpayers: May 1, 2003: $79 billion / May 1, 2006: $320 billion

Approval of Bush’s Handling of Iraq: May 1, 2003: 75% / May 1, 2006: 37%

Percentage of Americans who Believe The Iraq War Was “Worth Fighting”:
May 1, 2003: 70% / May 1, 2006: 41%

Bush’s Overall Job Approval: May 1, 2003: 71% / May 1, 2006: 38%

Startling... isn't it?