W has completely defused the "Mission Accomplished" issue; it was all to welcome the troops and sailors home.
Gave the mission accomplished banner a burr cut didn't he.
And .. according to Tommy Franks .. it was Franks that suggested the President use the words "Mission Accomplished" because Franks was trying to get assistance from nearby Arab states and they kept telling Franks that they would not get involved until "THE US MISSION WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND MAJOR COMBAT WAS OVER" .. which of course is why the President said, "Major combat is over".
So .. if the elite media could see farther than the end of their nose, they would have already had their answer.