Reed: Current Iraq course a 'mistake'

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said Saturday that following the current course in Iraq is a mistake.

Reed, delivering the Democrats' weekly radio address, took President George W. Bush to task for not laying out a "clear plan for success."

Bush has made two speeches recently and published a 35-page document outlining his "strategy for victory in Iraq." Democrats have consistently complained that Bush is not offering enough details.

Reed's remarks followed Republican criticism of Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean's comments that the United States cannot win in Iraq.

"No one can defeat the United States military and Democrats firmly believe that the U.S. can and must succeed," said Reed, "but the president's open-ended, ill-defined policy will not get us there."

Reed called on Bush to "articulate a clear plan for success.

"(Bush) must be candid and honest about the current situation, what is at stake, what it will take to succeed, how long the mission will last and what it will cost."