Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura told Newsmax TV Wednesday it's time for the United States military, which he called "the best in the whole wide world," to get itself out of the Middle East.
Ventura was asked during an appearance on the "Steve Malzberg Show" whether he agrees with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's belief that the military has gotten too small.
"No, our military doesn't need to be built. We have the largest military in the world, we have the most powerful and best military in the whole wide world," Ventura said.
"The only thing we need to do is get our military out of these wars, not in them. Iraq's been going on now for as long as the Vietnam War almost, it has no end to it. It's worse today than it was before we went there."
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Ventura, a retired Navy SEAL and the author of "Jesse Ventura's Marijuana Manifesto," told Malzberg he is a friend of Trump's but he's not a fan of his decision to seek the presidency.
Regarding Trump's promise to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS), Ventura echoed others and said that's not realistic.
"It won't work. Because ISIS is not going to disappear. It's a thought," he said.
Ventura noted the U.S. needs to withdraw from the Middle East because he said that's what started the terror attacks on America.
"Let's remember what Osama bin Laden said himself. He said, you don't see us attacking Sweden, do you?' Because they're only going after the people who are occupying them in their countries in the Middle East, which colonialism in America is alive and well," Ventura said.
"We don't deserve what we get but if weren't over there, do you think these attacks would be happening? No they would not be."
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