Operation Truth .. a site by Iraq combat veterans
 

http://www.optruth.org/main.cfm


About OpTruth
Operation Truth is a non-profit 501c(4), non-partisan veterans' organization that seeks to amplify the soldiers' voice in the American public dialogue. Paul Rieckhoff, a First Lieutenant in the Army Reserves, founded Operation Truth in June 2004, only months after he returned from a year-long tour in Iraq. As of January 2005, Operation Truth represents well over 300 OEF/OIF veterans, and has over 26,000 supporters.

We are funded solely by donations from people like you. Click here to find out how you can help!

Please refer to the links at left for information about our board of advisors and staff.

Very Intresting site, thanks.

Larry
 

Our local cable commission is a bit liberal. James would be considered a right wing reactionary. There is a two hour ?news program? played twice a day. It?s called ?Democracy Now?. A couple of days ago I watched if for a while. They were talking about Iraq and said words to the effect: 4 of the American occupiers were killed today when Muslim resistors set off a car bomb. (I would hope most people would not phrase it quite that way.)

They had a lovely time discussing Bush the Imperialist. They also said that electrical power had not been restored to all of the country as a means of punishing the locals. It?s just amazing what you can see and read in this country.

Can?t remember who the politician was who said it but it?s true that, ??democracy gives every man the right to make a fool of himself and many exercise that right?.

Stay healthy,
Andy

good site

Well Andy and David not sure what your objections are. These appear to be vets who were or still are there. If they are biased then so be it. There sure were a hell of a lot of us in Vietnam that had opinions about what was going on, call it biased or whatever. IMHO.

Larry

Andy :

if you are comparing American veterans to some crap you saw on your cable acces network, then with all due respect, that is bullshit. 'Nuf Sed.

Larry

Larry
 

Guess I didn't make my point very well. Lets try again.

It's June 6th, 1944 at 6 AM. You are in a landing craft with 16mm movie camera and recording what the troops have to say. Between vomiting do you think some of them would have said, "I don't think this is a good idea"? But at the time it was all about, "we are all on board and we have a job to do." Remember the first time you came under fire? What would you have said to a correspondent?

I just think that some troops will always complain, if their in combat or in the chow line at Fort Dix.

Stay healthy, nice to have you back,
Andy

Stll don't get it Andy....sorry

I said what I had to say about Vietnam well before I was drafted, don't you know, IT SUCKED. A bad war is still a bad war any way you slice it. Comparing D-Day to Vietnam or this mess is just stupid.

Thanks for welcoming me back. Seems like I need to get in the van and head back to Little Rock.


David :

Why did you erase the web site name ?

Makes no sense to me at all.

If anyone wants the site info, PM or email me..I don't believe in censorship.

Larry

Is this biased ?

Issues Facing Our Troops

The hardships Troops face deserve more attention. Educating the public about the problems facing our Troops will empower the American public to support our troops in a very tangible fashion: by demanding that elected officials address these issues.

Here are some of the key issues facing our soldiers. Operation Truth will continuously adapt to changing circumstances and focus on the Troops' most pressing needs.

National Guard and Reservists
For decades, Reservists and National Guardsmen have been treated as second-class citizens within the military. Reservists and National Guardsmen should be equipped and trained on par with their active duty counterparts.


The Mental Strain of War
Returning vets face serious psychological problems, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, as well as adverse reactions to the vaccine for malaria (Lariam). These issues increase the risk of family problems, alcohol and drug abuse, and even suicide.

Armor Shortage
Due to poor planning by the Pentagon, 6,530 Humvees in Iraq and Afghanistan lack adequate protection as of December 2004. While Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said that armor for the Humvees was being produced at maximum capacity, this is not true.

Depleted Uranium
The military claims it is perfectly safe, but others believe depleted uranium (DU) is the cause of a variety of mysterious illnesses, from cancer to Gulf War Syndrome. Find out more about the controversial use of depleted uranium (DU) in U.S. weapons.

Understanding the Wounded
Although the rising death toll in Iraq has received media attention, far less scrutiny has been given to the number of troops wounded, and often permanently disabled, in the war effort.

Underfunded VA
Learn about the inadequate resources provided for VA health care; new drug co-pays, fees, and eligibility requirements for vets; hospital closures; and possible VA budget cuts in 2006.


Problematic Role of Private Contractors in Combat Zones
The effectiveness and affordability of Halliburton, K.B.R, Blackwater and other companies are questionable. These private contractors are weakening our military by drawing away experienced troops using incentives such as significantly higher wages, better benefits and a more relaxed lifestyle. Introducing profit to the battlefield sets a dangerous precedent.


Proper Counseling and Treatment for the Soldiers
Many returning vets are suffering from psychological problems, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and illnesses linked with malaria and anthrax vaccines.

Citizenship for Returning Servicemembers
A notable percentage of the military is currently composed of non-U.S. citizens. These Servicemembers have served their adopted country and deserve a streamlined route to citizenship.

Weak National Support Systems for Soldiers' Families
When National Guard and Reserve soldiers are deployed, their families need and deserve child care, counseling services, job placement, spiritual support and financial safeguards.


Stop Loss: A "Back-Door Draft"
Stop Loss is the involuntary extension of active duty status of soldiers beyond their contractual obligation. Stop Loss is essentially a "back-door draft"-- a band-aid solution that has now been implemented to provide additional troop strength. Stop Loss is destroying the very concept of our volunteer military, is terribly damaging to morale, and is yet another indication that the original plan for war was flawed.

Larry
 

You need to know that my response to you was not in any way intended to be a person attack. It?s a difference of opinion.

That said, you wrote that Vietnam and the current war could not be compared to WWII. I?d suggest that all wars are either political or religious. WWII and Vietnam were political. The current one seems to be a combination of the two types of wars. A good friend defines war as, Breaking things and killing people. Thus I disagree that comparing D-day and Tet is stupid. The bullets weren?t going any slower, the dead were just as dead.
Unfortunately, our political leaders did not intend to win, that?s not our fault.

Further, communism as practiced thought out the 20th century resulted in the deaths of a lot more people than Fascism. My dad fought to stop one form of terrine, we fought to stop the larger one.

Stay healthy,
Andy

Larry your post is basically a commercial for a site that is very critical of our current administration. Our president is commander in chief of our armed forces. I do not see how it is of a benefit to troops or others to be overtly critical of our commander in chief. The candy wrapper they apply to the politics does a poor job of covering their true motives as evidenced by their campaign across America at college campus's.

The fact that they use the broken and confused minds of returning injured soldiers to push their agenda sends it over the top. I know of a few other people I respect greatly that support that site as well but I for one will not. I also know that probably a few of them will regret their support over time. Kinda like Kerry now regrets supporting Jane Fonda and the communist agenda during the Vietnam War. In case you don't believe he regrets that maybe some out their think he did not really want to be president.

You can call it censorship or whatever else you like but the bottom line is this: IT IS NOT RIGHT TO USE INJURED SOLDIERS WHO HAVE NOT EVEN GOT THEIR OWN HEADS IN ORDER YET TO SWAY PEOPLE AGAINST OUR GOVERNMENT.

Here is a flyer that they have published. Note the reference to poorly planned policies. This is a recurrent theme throughout their site and the spin is in just about everything they publish.

It is amazing to me that the naysayers still have wind in their sails after such a tremendous voting turnout and the birth of a new democracy. Then again it is not surprising when you consider the amount of money to be made by simply calling everything around yourself bad and then inviting others with no real direction to follow your lead.

Larry
I have to agree with David on this one. You could surf the net for days on end and come up with many different opinions....and guess what....All they are is opinions, and we all know what opinions are like.
Bob K

The flyer is mild compared to the videos and stories they post. They go from using Jesse Venture to assert that no one in the government has any experience in combat or leadership to using amputees to dispute the reasons we went to Iraq. I find it revolting.

They have a grand money making machine set up and get airtime on all of the networks (no surprise there) so regardless of my opinions about their motives they will no doubt continue to thrive but they will not do so at patriotfiles expense or with patriotfiles bandwidth.

The VVAW, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, was filled with tons of wannabee's and liars who made it their point to lie about their experiences in Vietnam. When I returned from Vietnam I was against the war but only in the context that the politicians would not let us win so lets get out. Well times have changed and we are winning the war against terrorism and have freed the Iraqi people from one of the most tyrannical governments in world history. The only politicians who are trying to sabatoge this war are the ones that would take this group seriously and feel they speak for majority of the Vets of this war.....and we all know who they are. I see and talk with Vets of this war on a DAILY bases. None feel the way these guys do. Bet most of them are Reservist......anyone wanna bet on that?

Pack

Larry, thanks. Its easy enough to find the site using Google. I did. You know, I hear a lot of the same stuff here at Hood, and in my own house from my husband whose head is very much together, as he prepares for a 3rd tour in Iraq. He's been active 21 years by the way Paco.

Vets Wife,

MOST was the optimimum word. Didn't say ALL, and also was talking about the web site. He's been active for 21 years on that web site? Didn't know the war has been going on that long.

I work with active duty Marines and Sailors every day who have made from one to three tours themselves. One of my patients was an active duty Marine who had just lost her ad Marine brother in Iraq. She does not agree with what is being said on that site and the vast MAJORITY, not every single person, of the service men and women I have come in contact with since day one of this war and the war in Afghan, voice a much different opinion that what we get from the media and sites like that, and they were there also. Your husband and every other veteran of this war have every right on earth to like it, hate it, speak out for it, or speak out against it. They've earned it. I'm not against free speech but have also earned the right to opine about a web site I disagree with and feel is detramental to people like your husband who are fighting. Sites like it give aid and comfort to the people that would like to kill him.

Packo

Paco...could not have said it better, keep up the fire brother!

Trav

OK, I understand your positions. I have talked to maybe 10 returning troops from Iraq at the VAMC and maybe 15 at North Little Rock. The sense I get about this war is not a good one. Many posts on here are always positive. You know how I feel about it. I could say a lot more, but will just let it go. David, thanks for your input, but we will just agree to disagree. My view is if you cannot listen to those who have risked their lives, who can you listen to ? You keep stating they are injured. PTSD ? Andy, I agree there are similarities in all wars, but also vast differences. WWII stands alone. Iraq is essentailly a civil war due to a cobbled together country thanks to the UK. When we are out of the picture the Shiites and Kurds will have all the oil and the Sunnis will be left with nothing. The fighting will continue for many, many years. I listen to all views and make up my mind. Comparing their site to Jane Fonda and John Kerry and all is bullshit. I will just leave the subject there. 'Nuf Sed.

P.S. : Paco, So Reservists are not as good as regular soldiers ? what kind of crap is that. They are doing the fighting and dying too...just did not understand your last remark.

P.P.S :

No one seemed to answer any of the questions posed under is this biased ?

No answers necessary..Just let the subject drop.

Larry

Larry,

No, you don't understand my last remark. There is no where in my post where I say Rerservist are not as good as regular soldiers. I would never say that. Please stop reading things into posts that are not there. Not understanding what I said makes sense, then adding "so reservist are not as good as regualr soldiers...." must be in your head not mine. I have heard MORE complaints out of reserves than RA's. Reason, RA's know they go fight wars, reservists have, especially since Vietnam, feel that they go to meetings and 2 week camps and that's it. They GRIPE more because they feel especially cheated by having to leave their homes and day jobs. Well, it's a new world out here with no draft and the reality is that reserves go. Now, would I want a reserve Infantry unit on my right flank or a RA Infantry unit protecting my right.....give me the RA's any day. Better trained and better equiped. Most of the complaining about armoured trucks and Hummers have come from reserve units. Didn't hear any whinning from the Rangers in Somalia that their Hummers weren't armoured when they drove into Mogadishu. No jeeps or fuel trucks, or supply trucks in WWII, Korea, Vietnam,etc were armoured. APC'S were armoured in Vietnam. Did many stand up to an RPG? So, my point was that it seems MOST of the beefs are from reservists and not the RA's. Hope I've made myself clear. It's a bit insulting to me to hear people infer that I think badly of ANY combat vets be they reservists, ng's, ra's, what ever. I've dedicated well over 20 years working with Vets and active duty DAILY while having to also deal with my own shit left over from that war. Not putting anybody down, but not many can say the same.

Packo

Larry
 

Now you see why I don't post much here anymore.

Gimpy,

For once I agree with you....why I don't post here much anymore.

Everyone is entitled to there own opinion. You can't say these guys coming back are wrong for there opinions. You don't know what they all went through as they don't know what many of you have been through.

I have had a cousin that served in Iraq and came back supporting Bush still and he has every right to that. Other soldiers have the right to disagree with him.

At one time in my life I probably believed that returning Vets would not be used for political purposes or for the simple motivation of making money. Vietnam disavowed me of that notion for good and Hollywood and any number of politicos have totally reinforced that early conviction along the journey and to this very point in time. Anyone that has been to war knows nothing is as it seems and the most uncommon thing to be found is ?Truth?. There are perceptions, experiences, impressions, absolutes, the full list of emotions and more, much more, but no one can see the full picture. By definition, half the picture is hidden by the enemy and other assorted political opponents.

So a ?not for profit? site claims to have the ?Truth?? Maybe there are factual stories, impressions, experiences and things of that nature, maybe. But a ?not for profit? driving an obvious political agenda and claiming ?truth? is a field of flashing red lights and due caution is needed before taking anything to the bank as an absolute. I?d like to hear what those Vets have to say outside an edited and closely chaperoned communication environment. Then a look at the site books perhaps, and really see what their version of ?not for profit? amounts to and exactly who the donors are. Therein the truth will be found, maybe, but this is not to be and instead all that can be relied upon is the veracity and ethics of the site creator and presumed boss man.
Scamp

RIGHT-ON!!!...
 

Andy, Bob, David, Paco, Scamp, and all others giving American Leaders the benefit of doubt, rather than instead of just ALWAYS: "Bashing" same, which in turn ALWAYS satisfies, gratifies and encourages the enemy and their many supporters worldwide, more so than can be imagined,...RIGHT-ON!!!

Especially during wartime, what good can come from such perpetual underminings and the perpetual sewing of seeds of discontent,...For The American People? Isn't being at war bad enough?

Hey,...why don't career Leftist Political Fools & Hacks find other and much less nation and warfare undermining ways for: "Recapturing The White House"? I'd prefer that. Plus, I have no doubt whatsoever that most all Brave and Courageous Front Line Warriors...WOULD PREFER THAT.

Besides, when all RA's or Volunteers sign on the-dotted-line, there's only one line and/or The American Line. There's no Democrat Line, nor a Republican Line to choose from.

Believe there are only ONE lines on VOLUNTEER Reserve or VOLUNTEER National Guard forms, also??
Am I wrong?

Neil :cd:

Paco :

sorry i said that. have been in a bad way since i got back from North Little Rock.

take care,

larry

Thanks Larry, I get it. Want you relaxed for the Mountain. Take care of yourself.

Pack

==============================================

That'd probably be a losing bet, Paco. I also imagine they are the ones who were making their meetings just to get school paid for. When their education was interrupted by a call to DUTY, they suddenly decided what Sam says is wrong. They were willing to get the education but not meet their obligations if called.

I guess they wanted to dance without paying the band.