George Walker Bush is a megalomanic, a war criminal and a person unfit to be president. the US will be defeated by the resistance in Iraq. Only stupid people would accept occupation by an alien army and call it liberation. The aggressors will perish. They will never prevail. Mohammed A. Hegazi Supporter of Iraq

Anyone with half a brain would see this as somewhat premature. Truly, the major combat was only just beginning.

The wording on this one was tricky. Bush has a tendency on basing his strategic thinking on ephemeral hopes rather than reality. They see what they want to see of certain events and attempt to make reality of it. Technically by May 1st, we had stopped combat operations to toppel the Hussein regime. At the time, we didn't have a plan to establish a stable government or even to provide a basic security structure for the country. While Bush was busy playing dress up, we were losing a critical window to establish stability in that country. We dropped the ball in early May and didn't regain it. I found the whole stunt to be un-becoming of the President. Too theatrical and phony, Bush should drop trying to be the next Reagan. Let Reagan be Reagan, Bush doesn't even stand close to him. The President instead should have had the guts to go to Iraq and declare the end of military operations instead of flying off of San Diego to do it. This is typical of Bush.

It'd be cool if we really could manipulate reality by just 'declaring' things. I would declare myself a millionaire and (poof), I'd be swimming in cash. I would also declare that I'm sleeping with Monica Bellucci, and that I actually wrote Moby Dick. Oh the fun things I would do if I could simply change reality to coincide with my wishes. Bush obviously has a pretty active imagination, too.

This is what's known in the spin-doctor business as a media-op. Insignificant, in part because its nonsensical.

Despite what Bush said, the major combat is not over in Iraq. Currently, American soldiers die every other day in combat.

a little short-sighted, but did provide a morale boost for our troops.