Meanwhile, in Washington, hundreds of peace activists gathered outside the White House Thursday to mark the fifth anniversary of President Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” speech. On May 1, 2003, Bush stood on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq. Jeremy Funk of Americans United for Change said the death toll since makes it a tragic anniversary.

Jeremy Funk: “Well, we’re here to note a very tragic anniversary. Five years ago today, President Bush arrogantly boarded the USS Abraham Lincoln, strutted across the deck and declared mission accomplished and all major combat operations were over. Well, here we are five years later, and since that day nearly 4,000 more American troops have died, nearly 30,000 more have been wounded.”

A group of Congress members also marked the anniversary. Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg said the “mission accomplished” speech underscores President Bush’s incompetence.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg: “Five years ago today, President Bush made an outrageous claim, a claim that has become the symbol of his incompetence and the failure in Iraq. After landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln like a conquering hero, he even put on the dress. He stood out under a banner reading 'Mission Accomplished' and declared, quote, 'Major combat operations in Iraq have ended.' Like almost everything the President has done on Iraq, his claim was flat-out wrong.”