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Many observers viewed Bush's recent speech
aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, as the unofficial
launch of his campaign for a second four-year term. Bush has now formally
launched his re-election bid.(AFP/File/Stephen Jaffe) |
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A White House spokesman denied May 8, 2003
that President George W. Bush 's visit to the USS Abraham Lincoln was a
costly political stunt that delayed the aircraft carrier's
arrival home. Bush is seen speaking to crew aboard the aircraft
carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1. Photo by Larry Downing/Reuters Reuters - May 08 12:50 PM |
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President George W. Bush gives a
thumbs-up while on a visit at sea aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln May
1, 2003. Congressional democrats on May 7 demanded to know the costs
of Bush's jet landing on the aircraft carrier last week,
branding it a costly political stunt. The Bush administration
disclosed on Tuesday that Bush insisted on landing on the Lincoln in a
S-3B Viking jet even though the carrier was within helicopter
range because he wanted to share the pilots' experience. The ship was
returning from the Gulf region after the U.S.-led war in Iraq . (Larry
Downing/Reuters) Reuters - May |
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President George W. Bush passes crew
members as he walks the deck of the aircraft carrier USS
Abraham Lincoln to deliver his speech to the nation as the carrier
steamed toward San Diego, California, May 1, 2003. Bush declared
major combat in Iraq over on Thursday and called the six-week war
'one victory' in the campaign against terror. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Reuters - May 02 8:38 AM |
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President George W. Bush walks the
deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln after
landing there aboard an S-3B Viking, as the carrier steamed
toward San Diego, California, May 1, 2003. From the deck of the carrier,
Bush was to address the nation to say that all major combat in Iraq
has ended. Bush will spend the night on the carrier, which is
stopping off in San Diego before heading for its home port in
Everett, Washington. The Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten
months. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Reuters - May 02 8:38 AM |
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U.S. President George W. Bush
successfully traps aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in a S-3B Viking
assigned to the Blue Wolves of Sea Control Squadron Three Five
designated 'NAVY 1' May 1, 2003. Bush is the first sitting President
to trap aboard an aircraft carrier at sea. Bush visiting the
ship which is returning from a ten-month deployment to the Gulf.
REUTERS/Gabriel Piper/U.S. Navy photo/Handout Reuters - May 02 1:27 AM |
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President Bush passes through the
'side boys' after a successful trap aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN
72) in a S-3B Viking assigned to the Blue Wolves of Sea Control
Squadron Three Five (VS-35) designated 'NAVY 1' May 1, 2003. Bush is
the first sitting President to trap aboard an aircraft carrier
at sea. Bush visited the ship, which is returning from a 10-month
deployment to the Gulf. REUTERS/Tyler J. Clements/U.S. (Reuters -
Handout) Reuters - May |
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Military personnel watch the S-3
Viking carrying US President George W. Bush to the USS Lincoln. Bush
arrived on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier from which he
is slated to declare the Iraq war a success but stop short of
declaring victory.(AFP/Stephen Jaffe) AFP - May 01 8:23 PM |
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U.S. National Security Advisor
Condoleezza Rice is seen as she waits for President George W. Bush
to land on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, as the
ship steamed toward San Diego, California, May 1, 2003. From the
deck of the carrier, Bush was to address the nation tonight
to say that all major combat in Iraq has ended. Rice and other White
House staff flew out to the ship on a C-2 Greyhound (COD) aircraft.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Reuters - May 01 6:59 PM |
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U.S. President George W. Bush meets
with crew members on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS
Abraham Lincoln, as it steamed toward San Diego, California, May 1,
2003. From the deck of the carrier, Bush was to later address
the nation to say that all major combat in Iraq has ended. Bush will
spend the night on the carrier, which is stopping off in San
Diego before heading for its home port in Everett, Washington. The
Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten months. REUTERS/Larry Downing Reuters - May 01 6:58 PM |
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U.S. President George W. Bush meets
with crew on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham
Lincoln as the carrier steamed toward San Diego, California,
May 1, 2003. From the deck of the carrier, Bush was to later
address the nation to say that all major combat in Iraq has ended.
Bush will spend the night on the carrier which is stopping
off in San Diego before heading for its home port in Everett,
Washington. The Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten months.
REUTERS/Larry Downing Reuters - May 01 7:00 PM |
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U.S. President George W. Bush
participates in a pre-flight briefing in the ready room aboard the aircraft
carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, as the carrier steamed
toward San Diego, California, May 1, 2003. The President will later
address the nation from the deck of the ship. The carrier has
been at sea for nearly ten months. REUTERS/Larry Downing Reuters - May 01 6:54 PM |
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U.S. President George W. Bush salutes
a crew member aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham
Lincoln, after his landing aboard an S-3B Viking, as the carrier
steamed toward San Diego, California, May 1, 2003. From the deck of
the carrier, Bush was to address the nation to say that all
major combat in Iraq has ended. Bush will spend the night on the carrier
which is stopping off in San Diego before heading for its home port
in Everett, Washington. The Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten
months. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Reuters - May 01 6:52 PM |
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President George W. Bush walks the
deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln after
landing there aboard an S-3B Viking, as the carrier steamed
toward San Diego, California, May 1, 2003. From the deck of the carrier,
Bush was to address the nation to say that all major combat in Iraq
has ended. Bush will spend the night on the carrier, which is
stopping off in San Diego before heading for its home port in
Everett, Washington. The Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten
months. Photo by Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Reuters - May 01 5:59 PM |
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President George W. Bush walks the
deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln after
landing there aboard an S-3B Viking, as the carrier steamed
toward San Diego, California, May 1, 2003. From the deck of the carrier,
Bush was to address the nation to say that all major combat in Iraq
has ended. Bush will spend the night on the carrier, which is
stopping off in San Diego before heading for its home port in
Everett, Washington. The Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten
months. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Reuters - May 01 5:58 PM |
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The S-3B Viking carrying President
George W. Bush prepares to land aboard the aircraft carrier
USS Abraham Lincoln, as the carrier steamed toward San Diego,
California, May 1, 2003. Today's landing is the first landing on a carrier
by a sitting U.S. President. Bush will spend the night on the carrier,
which is stopping off in San Diego before heading for its home port
in Everett, Washington. The Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten
months. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Reuters - May 01 5:24 PM |
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Crew members aboard the USS Abraham
Lincoln surround President George W. Bush , after his landing in an
S-3B Viking on deck of the aircraft carrier, as the ship
steamed toward San Diego, California, May 1, 2003. From the deck of
the carrier, Bush was to address the nation to say that all
major combat in Iraq has ended. Bush will spend the night on the carrier
which is stopping off in San Diego, before heading for its home port
in Everett, Washington. The Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten
months. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Reuters - May 01 5:18 PM |
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U.S. President George W. Bush
successfully lands aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in a S-3B
Viking, assigned to the Blue Wolves of Sea Control Squadron Three
Five (VS-35), and designated 'NAVY 1', off the coast of san Diego,
California May 1, 2003. President Bush is the first sitting
President to trap aboard an aircraft carrier at sea. Bush
will address the nation from abord the carrier, stating major
combat operations in Iraq have ended but there is 'difficult work'
ahead. REUTERS/U.S. Navy /Gabriel Piper. Reuters - May 01 5:17 PM |
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President George W. Bush meets with
crew members on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham
Lincoln, as the carrier steamed toward San Diego, California,
May 1, 2003. From the deck of the carrier, Bush was to
address the nation to say that all major combat in Iraq has ended.
Bush will spend the night on the carrier, which is stopping
off in San Diego before heading for its home port in Everett,
Washington. The Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten months.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Reuters - May 01 5:03 PM |
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President George W. Bush meets with
crew members on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS
Abraham Lincoln, as the carrier steamed toward San Diego,
California, May 1, 2003. From the deck of the carrier, Bush
was to address the nation to say that all major combat in Iraq has
ended. Bush will spend the night on the carrier which is
stopping off in San Diego before heading for its home port in
Everett, Washington. The Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten
months. REUTERS/Larry Downing Reuters - May 01 4:55 PM |
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President George W. Bush arrives on
the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln as the
carrier steamed toward San Diego, California, May 1, 2003.
From the deck of the carrier, Bush was to address the
nation to say that all major combat in Iraq has ended. Bush will
spend the night on the carrier, which is stopping off in
San Diego before heading for its home port in Everett, Washington.
The Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten months. REUTERS/Larry
Downing Reuters - May 01 4:41 PM |
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President George W. Bush meets with
crew members on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS
Abraham Lincoln, after landing there aboard an S-3B Viking, as the
carrier steamed toward San Diego, California, May 1, 2003.
From the deck of the carrier, Bush was to address the
nation to say that all major combat in Iraq has ended. Bush will
spend the night on the carrier which is stopping off in San
Diego before heading for its home port in Everett, Washington. The
Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten months. REUTERS/Kevin
Lamarque Reuters - May 01 4:25 PM |
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U.S. President George W. Bush walks
the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln after
his landing there in a S-3B Viking as the carrier steamed
toward San Diego, CA, May 1, 2003. From the deck of the carrier,
Bush was to address the nation to say that all major combat in
Iraq has ended. Bush will spend the night on the carrier,
which is stopping off in San Diego before heading for its homeport
in Everett, Washington. The Lincoln has been at sea for nearly ten
months. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Reuters - May 01 4:31 PM |
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President George W. Bush (L) shakes
the hand of S-3D Viking Pilot, Cmdr. John Lussier, who flew the
President onto the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham
Lincoln, as it steams toward San Diego, California, May 1, 2003.
From the deck of the carrier, Bush was to address the
nation to say that all major combat in Iraq has ended. Bush will
spend the night on the carrier, which is stopping off in
San Diego before heading for its home port in Everett, Washington.
The Lincoln has been at sea for nine months. REUTERS/Kevin
Lamarque Reuters - May 01 4:17 PM |
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U.S. President George W. Bush waves
from the cockpit onboard an S-3 Viking as he prepares to takeoff
to fly out to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln from
Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego May 1, 2003. Bush was
flying out to greet the 5,000 sailors aboard the Lincoln as they
return home from the war in Iraq . REUTERS/Mike Blake Reuters - May 01 2:53 PM |
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Navy pilot CDR Skip Lussier
(executive officer of Sea Control Squadron 35) (VS-35) gives an
O.K. sign before flying U.S. President George W. Bush out to the aircraft
carrier USS Abraham Lincoln from Naval Air Station North
Island, San Diego May 1, 2003. Bush, flew in a S-3 Viking as he
went out to greet the 5,000 sailors aboard the Lincoln as they
return home from the war in Iraq . REUTERS/Mike Blake Reuters - May 01 2:48 PM |
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U.S. President George W. Bush greets
ground crew members before boarding an S-3 Viking, to fly out to
the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, from Naval Air
Station North Island, San Diego, May 1, 2003. Bush was flying out
to greet the 5,000 sailors aboard the Lincoln as they return home
from the war in Iraq . REUTERS/Mike Blake Reuters - May 01 2:38 PM |
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U.S. President George W. Bush wears
his flight gear as he walks to board an S-3 Viking to fly out to
the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln from Naval Air
Station North Island, San Diego May 1, 2003. Bush was flying out
to greet the 5,000 sailors aboard the Lincoln as they return home
from the war in Iraq . REUTERS/Mike Blake Reuters - May 01 2:30 PM |
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U.S. President George W. Bush looks
out from the cockpit aboard an S-3 Viking, as he gets ready to
take off enroute to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham
Lincoln, from Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, May 1,
2003. Bush was flying out to greet the 5,000 sailors aboard the
Lincoln as they return home from the war in Iraq . REUTERS/Mike
Blake Reuters - May 01 2:27 PM |
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Wearing a flight suit, U.S.
President George W. Bush walks with NFO Lt. Ryan Phillips to board
an S-3 Viking, to fly out to the aircraft carrier USS
Abraham Lincoln from Naval Air Station North Island, in San Diego,
May 1, 2003. Bush was flying out to greet the 5,000 sailors aboard
the Lincoln as they return home from the war in Iraq .
REUTERS/Mike Blake |