At least no one died because of this one.
Remember that speech on the aircraft carrier? The one with the big "Mission Accomplished" banner? If you need a refresher, take a look at this lovely photo essay. Pay special attention to photos 10 and 11. These show the "Mission Accomplished" banner that now seems premature, at best.
Here's the lie, spoken by Dubya himself:
The "Mission Accomplished" sign, of course, was put up by the members of the USS Abraham Lincoln saying that their mission was accomplished. I know it was attributed somehow to some ingenious advance man from staff. They weren't that ingenious, by the way.
Now take a look at those photos again and ask yourself. Does that look like a banner put up by people on their way back from a war? Or does it look like something professionally done? Well, let's see what CNN/The NY Times had to say about this back in May:
Officials of past Democratic and Republican administrations marvel at how the White House does not seem to miss an opportunity to showcase Mr. Bush in dramatic and perfectly lighted settings. It is all by design: the White House has stocked its communications operation with people from network television who have expertise in lighting, camera angles and the importance of backdrops.. . . .
The most elaborate � and criticized � White House event so far was Mr. Bush's speech aboard the Abraham Lincoln announcing the end of major combat in Iraq. White House officials say that a variety of people, including the president, came up with the idea, and that Mr. Sforza embedded himself on the carrier to make preparations days before Mr. Bush's landing in a flight suit and his early evening speech.
Media strategists noted afterward that Mr. Sforza and his aides had choreographed every aspect of the event, even down to the members of the Lincoln crew arrayed in coordinated shirt colors over Mr. Bush's right shoulder and the "Mission Accomplished" banner placed to perfectly capture the president and the celebratory two words in a single shot. The speech was specifically timed for what image makers call "magic hour light," which cast a golden glow on Mr. Bush.
You be the judge.
Posted by Jason at October 28, 2003 04:49 PM