Operation Free

{{Infobox organization | name = Operation Free | logo = op-free.jpg | website = {{URL|http://www.operationfree.net/}} | founded = 2009 | location = Washington, D.C. }}

'''Operation Free''' is a coalition of veterans and national security organizations founded in August 2009 by the Truman National Security Project, The National Security Initiative, VoteVets.org, and VetPAC. Operation Free, in collaboration with other organizations, works to raise awareness, among policymakers and the public, of the national security threat posed by climate change and the United States' reliance on oil.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.wnct.com/nct/news/local/military/article/operation_free_veterans_group_makes_stop_in_raleigh/65695/#|title="Operation Free" veterans group makes stop in Raleigh|author=Amy Kibler|date=October 21, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.argusleader.com/article/20091016/NEWS/91016023/1001/news|title=Vets tour to promote climate change bill|author=John Hult|date=October 16, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

==Activities== In the Fall of 2009, with Alexander Cornell du Houx in charge, Operation Free launched a 29-state bus tour designed to give veterans the opportunity to talk directly to the American people about how climate change is "undermining our safety and why we need to pass clean energy and climate legislation as quickly as possible."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/fbeinecke/young_veterans_tell_congress_c.html|title=Military vets with Operation Free stop Friday in South Bend|date=October 16, 2009|access-date=October 27, 2010|archive-date=September 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903035229/http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/fbeinecke/young_veterans_tell_congress_c.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In September 2009, Operation Free flew in 150 veterans to attend the White House Administration's Clean Energy Briefing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/video/Operation-Free-Clean-Energy-Briefing|work=whitehouse.gov|title=Operation Free Clean Energy Briefing|via=National Archives|date=September 10, 2009}}</ref> These veterans met with 26 US Senators and/or Staff to discuss the national security threats of climate change and America's current energy posture. In February 2010, Operation Free hosted a similar event in which it flew 80 veterans into Washington D.C. to meet with policymakers and members of the press.

On September 20, 2010, Operation Free announced its sponsorship of race car driver Leilani Munter, who is also a clean energy advocate and environmental activist. On September 30, Leilani’s car (#59) which featured Operation Free’s logo, drove in the ARCA Series Kansas Lottery 150 race at the Kansas Speedway.<ref name="nascar">{{cite web|url=http://www.operationfree.net/news-and-events/news/|title=Operation Free NASCAR announcement|date=September 20, 2010}}</ref> Sturman Industries cosponsored Leilani in an effort to promote its "Powered By Sturman" American engine modifications that "address national energy and security needs by using technology to transform engine efficiency and facilitate the nations’ effort to replace foreign oil with alternative American fuels"."<ref name="nascar" />

==Controversy== The group has been criticized by Republican representative Daryl Metcalfe for "lending their name, to promote the leftist propaganda of global warming and climate change..."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/10/21/news/doc4ade73bcc76d7582618359.txt|title=Lentz, Operation Free irate over rep.'s e-mail|author=Alex Rose|date=October 21, 2009}}</ref> Metcalfe, of Pennsylvania, called any veteran who participated with Operation Free a "traitor to the oath he or she took to defend the Constitution."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repmetcalfe.com/?sectionid=59&parentid=1&sectiontree=59&itemid=567|title=PA State Legislator Attacked By Soros/MoveOn.Org-Connected VoteVets.Org|author=Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, 12th District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives|date=October 26, 2009|access-date=November 20, 2009}}</ref> The group responded with a radio ad campaign calling for Metcalfe's resignation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09300/1008588-178.stm|title=Ads call for Metcalfe's resignation|author=Tom Barnes|date=October 27, 2009|access-date=November 13, 2009|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|2}}

Category:American veterans' organizations Category:Environmental organizations based in Washington, D.C.