President Bush deserves to have this anniversary memorably marked. Five years of fighting since he pronounced the end of “major combat operations” attests to a singular capacity for delusion—except that his would-be successor is as least as reality-challenged.

Anyone inclined to think John McCain remotely capable of ending the war—see the letters section of our last issue—might take a look at his predictions. The aircraft-carrier address looks almost sane by comparison:

“I don’t believe it’s going to be nearly the size and scope that it was in 1991.” 9.15.02

“We made serious mistakes right after the initial successes by not having enough troops there on the ground.” 9.20.04

“This conflict is going to be relatively short.” 3.23.02

“I’ve always said this is long and hard and tough.” 4.6.08

“There’s no doubt in my mind that once these people are gone that we will be welcomed as liberators.” 3.24.03

“It’s clear that the end is very much in sight.” 4.9.03

“There’s not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shias. So I think they can probably get along.” 4.23.03

“Democrats are trying to do some kind of attack against this magnificent victory.” 7.23.03

“I would argue that the next three to six months will be critical.” 9.10.03

“Only the most deluded of us could doubt the necessity of this war.” 8.04

“We’ve seen a number of signs of progress, including that of the capabilities of the Iraqi military, agreement with the Sunnis as framing the constitution, a decrease in suicide bombers from Iraqis and more and more coming in from the outside. … there is a legitimacy to the Iraqi government that, frankly, the government of South Vietnam never had.” 6.28.05

“We will probably see significant progress in the next six months to a year.” 12.4.05

“We are making progress. The formation of a government is helpful. We are training the Iraqi troops. There are parts of Iraq that are well under control and very peaceful.” 5.24.06

“Things are better and there are encouraging signs. I have been here many years—many times over the years. Never have I been able to drive from the airport, never have I been able to go out into the city as I was today.” 4.1.07, wearing body armor, accompanied by 100 U.S. soldiers, three Blackhawk helicopters, and two Apache gunships

“The next six months are going to be critical.” 9.12.07

“Iraq is now the central front in the war against al-Qaeda.” 9.16.07

“Anybody who believes the surge has not succeeded, militarily, politically, and in most other ways, frankly, does not know the facts on the ground.” 2.08

“We’ve go to get American’s off the frontlines, have the Iraqis as part of the strategy, take over more and more of the responsibilities, and then I don’t think Americans are concerned if we’re there for one hundred years or a thousand years or ten thousand years.” 1.6.08

“If we do set a date for withdrawal, Al Qaida will then win. … We’re all over the world. One of the obligations, unfortunately, of being a great superpower is that we have to take care of the world’s security.” 2.3.08