racheleggert
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Patricia Lopez, Star Tribune
August 21, 2004 VENTURA0821
Former Gov. Jesse Ventura has decided to link arms with a veterans group calling itself "Operation Truth." The group says it will "expose preventable hardships" American troops have endured in Iraq and Afghanistan as the result of "poorly planned policies and approaches."
The group will declare its official launch Tuesday with a national conference call featuring Ventura, a former Navy SEAL, and Bobby Muller, of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation.
The group was founded by Paul Reickhoff, a National Guard member who volunteered for active duty and served 10 months in Iraq as a platoon leader for a combat infantry division.
Since his return early this year, Reickhoff has spoken out against Bush administration policies in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has said that his group is nonpartisan and that he is a political independent, although he gave the Democratic response to a Bush radio address in May.
In previous interviews, Reickhoff has said Operation Truth takes no position on the war itself, only on the way it has been conducted. He has criticized the administration's "stop-loss" policy that involuntarily extends active duty for certain soldiers and the role of private contractors in combat zones, taking specific aim at Halliburton, the company once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney.
Eric Schmeltzer, communications consultant for Operation Truth, said he could not yet say what Ventura's role in the organization will be, "but he's committed to supporting the organization as much as he possibly can and we're thrilled with that."
August 21, 2004 VENTURA0821
Former Gov. Jesse Ventura has decided to link arms with a veterans group calling itself "Operation Truth." The group says it will "expose preventable hardships" American troops have endured in Iraq and Afghanistan as the result of "poorly planned policies and approaches."
The group will declare its official launch Tuesday with a national conference call featuring Ventura, a former Navy SEAL, and Bobby Muller, of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation.
The group was founded by Paul Reickhoff, a National Guard member who volunteered for active duty and served 10 months in Iraq as a platoon leader for a combat infantry division.
Since his return early this year, Reickhoff has spoken out against Bush administration policies in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has said that his group is nonpartisan and that he is a political independent, although he gave the Democratic response to a Bush radio address in May.
In previous interviews, Reickhoff has said Operation Truth takes no position on the war itself, only on the way it has been conducted. He has criticized the administration's "stop-loss" policy that involuntarily extends active duty for certain soldiers and the role of private contractors in combat zones, taking specific aim at Halliburton, the company once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney.
Eric Schmeltzer, communications consultant for Operation Truth, said he could not yet say what Ventura's role in the organization will be, "but he's committed to supporting the organization as much as he possibly can and we're thrilled with that."