"Mission Accomplished" anniversary: Political powerhouses comment

FORT MYERS: Five years ago on May 1, President George W. Bush announced that major combat operations ended in Iraq. But that has hardly been the case. NBC2 spoke with two Washington power players about where the war goes from here.

It was the moment that was supposed to define the presidency - the moment we were told the Iraq War ended.

"My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed," said President Bush on May 1, 2003.

But more than 1,800 days and thousands of lost lives later, the mission is still in full effect.

Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North has been to the Middle East a dozen times since September 11th. Thursday, he was the keynote speaker at the 25th Annual Community Prayer Breakfast.

NBC2 asked him if the war has been worth the cost.

"They don't want this war to end the way the war I fought in ended. And they deserve better than that," said North. "They volunteered to fight in it and I think they ought to honor that."

Next, we put the same exact questions to the former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who was promoting his new book in Naples.

"First of all, they should have never had the event on the aircraft carrier like they did," said Gingrich.

Gingrich says that event wasn't the only thing the Bush Administration mismanaged.

"I think getting rid of Saddam was right. I think defeating the terrorists was right. But there is no question there was a three year period where the administration mishandled Iraq," he said.

"They know that they're winning, they know that this is a long, long war," said North.

For now the opinions, and the war, are still ongoing.

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