>>Remember George W. Bush “mission accomplished” victory speech on May 1, 2003 on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln?

I'm not a GWB fan, but there's a story behind that banner: that carrier's tour was over; they were about to head to their home port. Mission over, a banner was put up for that, not a presidential visit, which they probably had no idea was coming (SOP for gov't VIPs in a war zone).

That said, the initial part of deposing Saddam went to plan. Things went to hell because the Bush administration expected it would be a trivial exercise, exacerbated by firing anyone associated with the Baath party, which led to an armed resistance that might not have otherwise formed.

So when GWB gave that speech, it was a military victory. We were about to lose it afterward - which I think might be the way things go for Ukraine.

Not that I think we should have ever intervened there. It was Neocons taking advantage of the moment right after 9/11 to start a war they (mostly Cheney) wanted.