Iraq veteran criticises Bush on radio

[JoFerret]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4042775,00.html


WASHINGTON (AP) - An Iraq war veteran expressed disappointment with President Bush on Saturday, saying the nation's leaders refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of continuing violence in Iraq.

``I don't expect our leaders to be free of mistakes. I expect our leaders to own up to them,'' said Army National Guard 1st Lt. Paul Rieckhoff, who was a platoon leader in Iraq.

<snip>
``Our troops are still waiting for more body armor. They are still waiting for better equipment. They are still waiting for a policy that brings in the rest of the world and relieves their burden,'' said Rieckhoff.

....it's time we had leadership in Washington to match that courage and match that capability.''
<snip>

Rieckhoff said he is not working for the Kerry campaign or for the Democratic Party. He contacted Kerry staffers who deal with veterans issues when he returned from Iraq three months ago, and they ``provided me with the forum. I wrote every word.''

Rieckhoff is an Amherst College graduate who spent two years on Wall Street as an investment banking analyst before joining the National Guard. He said he plans now to return to university.

[seemslikeadream]

1. Good Americans don't ask questions!

[TacticalPeek]

2. I've heard a nice soundbite a couple of times on cable.

"My question for President Bush -- who led the planning of this war so long ago -- is this: When will you take responsibility for the decisions you've made in Iraq and realize that something is wrong with the way things are going?"


cricket sound

[calimary]

4. Let's all shout that as loudly as we can, as frequently as we can.

Rub his bloomin' nose in it. Won't be hard for me. He's told so many lies by now that his nose has grown long enough to stretch all the way out here to California!

[Politicub]

3. Pity Dear Leader!

Err, I mean Bush. The emperor won't stand for someone speaking against him publicly. This solider will have the right wing attack machine trained on him for him even thinking that he could voice his opinion in Bush's America.

[maryallen]

5. Good move, Dems!

The young man on the radio response to Bush was excellent.