U.S. Army admits mistakes made in Iraq war

WASHINGTON, June 30 (UPI) -- U.S. military leaders made several mistakes in the beginning of the Iraq war and were unprepared for disorder, the Army's official history of the war says.

Insufficient recognition of disorder consuming Iraq and a failure to deploy substantial troops following the 2003 invasion have been pointed out by analysts, but the Army criticizes itself in the official history, CNN reported Monday.

Blunt statements by Army officials in the 720-page report, put together by the Combat Studies Institute at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., indicate the military had strong worries from the beginning of the conflict until Iraq's January 2005 elections.

Officials said there was uncertainty surrounding planners' predictions and choices made after U.S.-led coalition soldiers gained control in the country.

Past wars "should have indicated that many more troops would be needed for the post-Saddam era in Iraq," historians wrote.

"The coalition's inability to prevent looting, to secure Iraq's borders and to guard the vast number of munitions dumps in the early months after Saddam's overthrow are indicative of the shortage," the report said.