Five years ago today...

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed." - "President" George "Flightsuit" Bush - May 1, 2003 aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln

and I see the world in a nice shade of rose...

Keep in mind:

• Days since Bush's speech under the 'Mission Accomplished' banner: 1,827
• Days 'til Bush leaves office: 263 and counting...
• Bush’s favorability rating: 29% according to Pollingreport.com
• U.S. combat deaths before 'Mission Accomplished': 139 according to icasualties.org
• U.S. combat deaths after 'Mission Accomplished': 3,924 according to icasualties.org. Meaning that more than 97% of total troop deaths occurred after ‘major combat operations ended’
• Percent of Americans who believe invading Iraq was a mistake: 63% according to Gallup
• Current cost of the war in Iraq: $516,000,000,000 according to National priorities project

Four Years Later...

From Think Progress:

On May 1, 2003, President Bush stood underneath a “Mission Accomplished” banner and announced that “Major combat operations have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.”

Here’s a by-the-numbers look at the situation then, compared to the situation now:

- - - - - -	5/1/2003	5/1/2007
U.S. Troops Wounded	542	24,912
U.S. Troops Killed	139	3,351
Contractors Killed	69	916
Journalists & Media Assistants Killed	11	167
U.S. Forces in Iraq	150,000	146,000
Number of Insurgents	less than 5,000	70,000 +
Insurgent Attacks Per Day	8	148.9
Cost to U.S. Taxpayers	$79 billion	$421 billion
Approval of Bush’s Handling of Iraq	75%	24%
Percentage of Americans who Believe The Iraq War Was “Worth Fighting”	70%	34%
Bush’s Overall Job Approval	71%	32%

I don't think anything else needs to be said…