Veteran says leaders should own up to mistakes in Iraq

A soldier who fought in Iraq says the mission has not yet been accomplished, one year after President Bush declared an end to major combat operations.

Paul Rieckhoff gave the Democrats' weekly radio address today. The Army National Guard first lieutenant was a platoon leader in Iraq.

He says troops were sent into Iraq with "too little support and too little planning.'' He says they didn't have enough vehicles, ammunition, body armor, medical supplies or water.

And he says they're still waiting for those things.

Rieckhoff says he's not angry, but he is disappointed. He says when leaders make mistakes, they should "own up to them.''

Instead, he says, the people who planned the war watched Iraq fall into chaos and have refused to change course.

He says Washington needs leadership that's as courageous and capable as the U-S forces serving in Iraq.