Tapper: Timing of Bush Veto Will Be 'Reminder of Everything Unaccomplished' in Iraq

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ABC's Jake Tapper concluded his Thursday World News story, on the House and Senate Iraq funding bills which include timetables for the withdrawal of troops, by adding a gratuitous zinger about President Bush's much-derided “Mission Accomplished” speech. Noting how Democrats intend to send their final conference bill to the President on Tuesday, for an expected veto, Tapper helpfully pointed out how that “just so happens to be the fourth anniversary of the President's 'Mission Accomplished' photo-op aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.” Tapper then bore in, asserting, “of course” that “would be an uncomfortable reminder of everything in Iraq that remains unaccomplished.” War supporters would see it as a reminder of how the Democratic effort to show they support the troops remains unaccomplished.

Tapper's spin matched the second paragraph of a story, by Jonathan Weisman, on the front page of Thursday's Washington Post: “Democrats hope to send the measure to the White House on Monday, almost exactly four years after President Bush declared an end to major combat in a speech aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. That would be a particularly pungent political anniversary for Bush to deliver only the second veto of his presidency.”

From Capitol Hill, Tapper concluded his April 26 World News story:

“Democrats are thinking about sending this bill to the President, for his signature or a veto, on Tuesday, which just so happens to be the fourth anniversary of the President's 'Mission Accomplished' photo-op aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. That, of course Charlie, would be an uncomfortable reminder of everything in Iraq that remains unaccomplished.”