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Cleveland, OH — As Democrats use the fifth anniversary of President Bush’s infamous “Mission Accomplished” Iraq speech to blast Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee distanced himself from the phrase and condemned what he says was an atmosphere that contributed to the use of that banner.

“To state the obvious, I thought it was wrong at the time. I thought phrases like ‘a few dead-enders,’ ‘last throes,’ all of those comments contributed over time to the frustration and sorrow of Americans because those statements and comments did not comport with the facts on the ground,” McCain said at a media availability Thursday. “I complained loud and long that the strategy was failing and we couldn’t succeed…I was one of the strongest advocates, of changing to adopt the surge, an advocate for General (David) Petraeus, and I think that history will judge me that I thought it was wrong and I knew what was right.”

Asked if Bush bore responsibility for the placement of the “Mission Accomplished” banner posted above him at the speech, McCain took a big picture approach.

“Do I blame him for that specific banner? I have no knowledge of that. I can’t blame him for that. But I do, do say statements were made-’a few dead-enders,’ ‘last throes’…(that) were contradicted by the facts on the ground,” McCain said, rebuking famous quotes by former Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney respectively.

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While April was the bloodiest month for U.S. troops in Iraq in more than six months, McCain touted recent progress, criticizing a BBC reporter who premised her question by stating that there had been little political progress in Iraq.

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