COIN Strategy, Rules of Engagement and Catch-Release Policy--Congress Must Demand Hearings 
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 12:44AM
City On A Hill in Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard, Lt. Michael Behenna, Military, Rules of Engagement, Soldiers, catch and release policy, coin strategy, counter insurgency, terrorism, vickie behenna, war on terror

Hear an interview with USMC Sgt (Ret) John Bernard and Mrs. Vickie Behenna (mother of Lt. Michael Behenna) talk about the COIN strategy, the rules of engagement and the catch and release policy.  John Bernard lost his son Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard (KIA Afghanistan in 2009) and he has been speaking out about the COIN strategy along with its rules of engagement that have hampered our military's ability to have victory in Afghanistan.  Instead we see a pass in Afghanistan as amid the efforts to bend over backwards and build goodwill-we are still seen as the enemy by the majority of Afghans.  John Bernard has through his writings in his blog (letthemfight.blogspot.com) have exposed the failed foundation of the COIN part of which is due to the relationship between Hesham Islam and Gordon England in the Dept of Defense that compromised the proper development of the strategy due to subversion of important documents.  The truth needs to be heard by our Congress so please visit his blog and share the truth then demand Congress to have a hearing. 

That is also the call of Mrs. Vickie Behenna mother of Army Ranger Lt. Michael Behenna wrongfully imprisoned for supposedly killing a known Al Qaeda terrorist operative.  When enemies are set free due to incredibly troubling catch and release policy that leaves officers reeling at the further danger this places men in their charge--it is no surprise the pro-active action of Lt. Michael Behenna.  The turn of events however led to him being now seen as the enemy by this current administration's policies and this true American hero was sentenced to 25 yrs in prison and the height of insults is the prosecutors withheld vital information that shows he did not murder the Al Qaeda operative.  Why would the prosecution withhold such information and when confronted--the system still has not given him a new trial so that this information could be heard to absolve Army Ranger Lt.  Michael Behenna-one of our brave defenders.  Why does the Obama administration not do its best to help one of it's greatest resources--a brave young dedicated American military soldier (Army Ranger)--yet bends over backwards to help make sure terrorists gets their day in court.

Part of the reason maybe because they think US citizens do not care.  Please listen, share, pray and then ask Congress to pay attention as our soldiers do matter.  You need to learn about the COIN strategy, rules of engagement and catch and release policy so that you can make a difference and tell Congress to stop this madness.  Our soldiers must be able to fight well as unfortunately the current strategy has not worked even though it is portrayed as doing so--proof shows otherwise as the only reason we are not worse off is due in fact to the surge and not the coin strategy.  We maybe leaving Afghanistan but we pray we will not have to come back as unfortunately most of the Afghans still see us as infidels and their enemies as nation building has not worked as evidenced by an event this month in one of the safer places when Afghans turned against our soldiers-- read more  This story along with news of even Iraq's government unwillingness to help pay for expenses in helping their country when they are able --and the treatment of the California Congressman who dare suggest such is a very disturbing indeed...We must look again at our policies--time to demand it America!

Article originally appeared on City on a Hill Radio Show (http://cityonahill.squarespace.com/).
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