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Operation Truth puts a face to the "one of 7000+ wounded"
WASHINGTON, DC – Operation Truth, a national group representing and advocating for Veterans of the Iraq war, is introducing a new television ad today along with a national ad buy, which is sure to provoke debate and deep thought. The ad can be viewed by going to Operation Truth's website – www.optruth.org.
The ad, titled "Not There," features Robert Acosta, a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, who lost part of his arm and use of his leg as a result of a grenade explosion in the war. The commercial clearly shows his injury. Mr. Acosta, talking directly to the camera, says, "I was called to serve in Iraq because the government said there were weapons of mass destruction -- but they weren't there. They said Iraq had something to do with 9/11 -- but the connection wasn't there. They told us that we'd win the war and be home soon, but we're still there. So when people ask me where my arm went, I try to find the words, but they're not there." Text then comes on the screen that reads, "Robert Acosta is one of thousands fighting a new war. One to get the truth out." "The Pentagon will tell you that Robert Acosta is one of 7000-plus wounded in action," said Paul Rieckhoff, who served as an Infantry Platoon Leader in Iraq, and is the Executive Director of Operation Truth. "We're here to tell you that Robert Acosta is a real person, with real war experience, and the American people must see and hear from him, and others returning from the battlefield. They're the ones that can tell you what's really happening out there. That's important if someone is to make a fully informed decision about the war, and the needs of the troops." "I'm not looking for pity by being in this ad," said Robert Acosta, who was an Army Specialist in Iraq. "But I think people should see what the cost of war looks like. Is it tough to look at? Yes, it is, but I have to look at it everyday. Americans should see it for 2 seconds. Nobody really knows what the soldiers are going through, what's happening to them. They see on TV that two soldiers got wounded today and they think, yeah, he'll be alright. But that soldier is scarred for life both physically and mentally, in a way people don't understand. We need people to understand more." Though the ad takes a tough stance on the rationale for war not being validated, Operation Truth remains non-partisan and takes no position on the war. "We represent the voice of the troops. They don't have one position on the war or the election, so we're not going to try to pretend they do," said Paul Rieckhoff. "We'll be around after November, and if Senator Kerry is elected, we're still going to do the same thing. I can guarantee you some members of a would-be Kerry Administration won't be too happy about that." Operation Truth is a national, non-profit, non-partisan group educating the American public about the truth of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from the first-hand perspective of those who served. |
