CHICAGO, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- An Iraq war veteran who lost her legs when a rocket-propelled grenade blew up in the helicopter she was piloting is running for Congress in Illinois.
In seeking the congressional seat being vacated by retiring Republican Rep. Henry Hyde, Duckworth joins a host of military veterans running as Democrats for House seats in GOP-leaning districts, The Chicago Tribune reported.
Duckworth calls the Iraq war "a mistake."
"Nobody in Congress right now has the perspective that those of us who've served in Iraq have," Duckworth told the newspaper Friday as she sought signatures for her candidacy petitions at a Streamwood, Ill., restaurant.
"Only those of us who've served on the ground over there understand the dynamics that are truly going on over there right now."
At least 10 other veterans who served in the military after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks now are running for Congress as Democrats.
Paul Hackett, a former Marine Corps major, came close to winning a special election this summer for an Ohio congressional seat that had been held by the GOP for decades, the newspaper said.
