The New York Times > International > Middle East > Logistics: Inquiry Opens After Reservists Balk in Baghdad: "'I know soldiers are deeply concerned and have been deeply concerned about the equipment shortages,' said Paul Rieckhoff, who was an Army lieutenant in Iraq for almost a year, until February this year, and is now executive director of Operation Truth, a New York advocacy group working to draw attention to the needs of soldiers in Iraq and returning veterans.
'When you don't have proper equipment, you feel vulnerable,' Mr. Rieckhoff said. 'We haven't evolved quickly enough to meet the enemy threat, which is rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs.'"

I knew that guy in college. He was two years behind me. Big, burly, smart dude with an attitude. Had a show on WAMH, where I was general manager, called "Rieck on the Mic," which only sounds good if you know that Rieckoff rhymes with mic-off. He's exactly the type of guy I'd want fighting in the U.S. Army. If anybody happens to read this who happens to ever speak to Paul Rieckhoff, tell him I give him mad props.

In any case, this is a great story, and it's interesting that the presidential campaign sort of brought it to the attention of the public, rather than vice versa.

UPDATE: Yes, it's definitely the same guy I knew... Here's a Salon piecethat mentions his background. "Rieckhoff, a political independent, looks like the former football player that he is: 6 feet 2 inches, and 250 pounds. His head is shaved bald. At Amherst College he played tight end, and after graduating in 1998, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves."