John Bernard's Letter re: Revised Rules of Engagement

07/23/09 1056

I want to thank you for answering my letter to you in July concerning the new ROE in Afghanistan. I believe you either misunderstood the purpose of the letter or focused on the wrong item. While I believe the selection of General McChrystal was politically motivated, my actual concern is how this has affected our Warriors in Afghanistan. Let me reiterate:

Gen McChrystal established a new ROE (Rules of Engagement) upon his first visit to Afghanistan 2 months ago. This ROE requires all American Warriors to ‘break engagement with the enemy’ under the following conditions:

There are civilians in the area

You believe there may be civilians in the area

You cannot ascertain beyond a doubt that there may be civilians in the area.

The result of this new ROE is that our Marines and Soldiers are forced to ‘refuse the chase’ for fear of violating the new rules. This in turn is emboldening an enemy that has already showed a proclivity toward wanton murder of civilians and setting IED’s for patrolling Marines. While this ROE is suppose to spare civilian lives, it is

actually costing more civilians their lives and placing our Warriors at unreasonable risk.

In addition; NOW ZAD, Helmand Province is being patrolled by one, lone, Marine Corps Company with little to no support. That area of operation would normally require as much as a Regiment to cover correctly. The result is Marines patrolling, day and night, over ground with newly laid IED’s. Marines are being blown to bits without the ability to ‘bring the fight to the enemy’.

As a retired United States Marine, I and my fellow Marines understand the dangers inherent in the mission. Placing Warriors in a place where they cannot employ those skills they bring to the battlefield or even defend themselves is immoral at best.

My request is that you have a Staffer review this issue, update you and that you bring it up with your colleagues. I find it difficult to believe that members of Congress and the Senate would knowingly place the lives of American Warriors in a place where casualties will certainly increase (and they are increasing) with little or no change in the conditions they were sent there to deal with.

PLEASE REVIEW THIS SITUATION; YOU HAVE CONSTITUENTS TRYING TO PERFORM UNDER THESE IMMORAL RULES.

I have taken the time to include the original letter for you or a Staffer to more closely inspect. Please check the imbedded links to Intelligence sites. They are illuminating.

Sincerely;

John Bernard

1stSgt USMC Ret.

Congressman Mike Michaud

1724 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515-1902

Dear Sir;

I am writing to you today as an American citizen, 26 year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, committed Christian, Husband, Father of two and a businessman. I am also writing to you as the Father of a Marine who is, as all of his brothers in arms are, in harms way. That by itself is not a cause for concern for me because as a Warrior I understand two things:(1) it is the very nature of the calling to which we have been called that we will be thrust into dangerous, even life threatening situations to fight the enemies of our country and (2) that there could not possibly be a safer place to be than in the company of fellow Marines. In any case, that is the nature of the business and those who serve in this capacity have long since dealt with the realities of life in uniform.

There are, however, certain expectations, an unspoken trust within the ranks of those of us who serve and have served in this capacity. One of those is that we have a belief that as Americans, our leadership will not frivolously spend our blood on unworthy pursuit. To those of us who serve, let me be very clear to those of you who hold our lives in your hands; this means that the reason we may die can ultimately be defined as protecting homeland, family and fellow American lives (spelled US citizens). We also assume we will not be used as pawns in some personal vendetta or worse some career building scheme; that we will not be asked to spill our blood in a foreign land to defend the indefensible. We expect we will be able to do that for which we were trained; export violence with ferocity and drive our enemies to their knees with the ultimate goal of ending the conflict by forcing them to do our will. Such are the dreams and aspirations of the Warrior. Men like this seek to serve side by side with like-minded men prepared to meet their destiny on the field of battle; living a life of honor while testing personal courage in the forge of combat. Our nations Warriors have no other expectations, no visions of grandeur, no careers to bolster, no kingdoms to lord over, no sovereignty to subvert. These men just seek to serve their country.

Now that you have ever so basic an understanding of the intrinsic nature of the Warrior; I hope to encourage you to show them at least the dignity of thoughtful and painstaking decision-making when considering when and where to thrust them into the fires of hell. My demand is that you emphatically understand that this decision will have eternal consequences for the men involved and their families. I also expect this decision to be for the simple reason of defense of country and countrymen (again spelled United States Citizens).

If any part of you still understands that you were sent to Washington DC for the sole purpose of defending these shores and to defend the ‘life, liberty and pursuit of happiness’ of the citizens of this nation; and if you still believe you are first a servant of all, then you yet may possess the ability to understand the immorality of what I am about to share with you and the necessity to change this policy NOW.

President Obama has seen fit to replace the sitting ISAF commander with a General McChrystal (see Bio at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_A._McChrystal). Suffice it to say that Gen McChrystal’s understanding of the Warrior ethos is somewhat askew from the mainstream. Also let us cut to the chase and identify him more as a political mouthpiece than a field commander. Add to this the dubious addition of General James L. Jones (see bio at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_L._Jones), who unlike McChrystal has actual combat experience but still shares the same ultimate goals and one world vision as both McChrystal and Obama. What you have here is an unholy trinity injecting their shared philosophy of ‘spare the civilians at all cost’ – even though those civilians are not US citizens and are in fact complicit in their own misfortune. The new ROE presented by McChrystal and under which operation Khanjar was mounted is nothing less than disgraceful, immoral and fatal for our Marines, Sailors and Soldiers on the ground. The Marines and Soldiers that are ‘holding’ territories of dubious worth like Now Zad and Golestan without reinforcement, denial of fire-support and refusal to allow them to hunt and kill the very enemy we are there to confront are nothing more than sitting ducks. Denying them even the ability to fight, which is their only purpose for existing, to defend themselves in a foreign land that sees them first as agents of the devil is detestable to the secular world and immoral to the rest of us. And for those of us with ‘vested interests’ thrust into that foreign land; it angers us. The links I have provided will give you some indication of the insanity of the current situation and the suicidal position this administration has placed these Warriors in. I admonish this administration and all those currently in public office whom we have entrusted with our security, well-being and the very lives and well-being of the best of us, our Warriors to start acting like you actually care or even understand the consequences of ludicrous decisions like this one. I then hold you responsible to actively seek to change this immoral policy to one that allows our Warriors the opportunity to do what they were trained to do; destroy our enemies and protect our citizenry.

http://www.militarytimes.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1578049

http://www.captainsjournal.com/2009/07/07/no-excuse-marines-losing-legs-in-now-zad/

http://www.captainsjournal.com/2009/07/03/afghanistan-the-wtf-war/

http://www.captainsjournal.com/2009/07/05/calling-on-national-security-advisor-james-l-jones-to-resign/

http://www.captainsjournal.com/2009/07/26/follow-and-kill-every-single-taliban/

http://www.captainsjournal.com/2009/07/28/the-marines-must-hold-helmand/

To those who would suggest that COIN (counter insurgency) is complicated I say hog-wash. This has become the mantra of the one-world ideologues. This has become complicated because leadership has lost its way. It is not the responsibility of the leaders (servants) of this country to re-build a country that has not been destroyed by us nor does the leadership of this country have any intrinsic right to spill the blood of this country’s finest for this cause. I’ll lay it out for you; bad guys entered this country, unannounced and unwelcome and killed Americans on American soil. Bad guys continue to harass and threaten to kill Americans here at home and abroad. Bad guys continue to train in foreign lands and continue to plan to carry out these plans against sovereign American citizens. They have no rights or guarantee of protection under the Constitution of the United States because they are not United States citizens. They are not protected by the Geneva Convention because they don’t fight under any Nation’s Flag. We however, have the right – and responsibility, with historical and Biblical precedent to export violence to crush these Bad guys, wherever they may live and in whatever lair they may hide

For those of us who have served in uniform and for those of us who have family forced to serve under these immoral conditions the time to quietly observe and pray has ended. There is a new activist emerging; not like the cannabis induced flailing of the sixties and seventies but one with the discipline, training and tenacity of a Warrior. Those of us who have a history in this Warrior culture and a vested interest on the battlefield will be a lot more vocal from this point on. Those in this culture who do not yet know about this immoral ROE change will soon all know as well as the families of those who are imperiled by it. Those who have actively supported this policy of immorality or are not engaged enough to know of it; they will be re-introduced to your constituencies for their failings. Public service is precisely what it portends to be; service. If there are those among your number who have failed to remember that I can promise you we will make that known within our spheres of influence.

This letter is making its way through the halls of every national news agency as well as the local ones in Maine, as you read this. I have contacted your office by phone, e-mail and now letter to give you a chance to get out in front of it. Consider this a wake-up call.

John J. Bernard

1stSgt USMC ret

07/09/2009 08:01– relentlessly! If the civilian populations in those areas lack the intestinal fortitude to expel them from their midst or they quietly support them or they actively support them; they are not innocent and may well suffer ill consequences for their cowardice and their complicities.

Health Care Bill

Here's the 1900 page report

Child Abuse, Abortion, Homosexuality Indoctrination--What Do They Have In Common?

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

I heard a friend of mine, a counselor, quote the above scripture and speak about the enemy of our souls that tries to pervert and twist our children's destiny.

I just viewed a video of little Kelsey Briggs Smith who died at a very tender age of around 2 years old because of a mother who forsook her and a stepfather who thought she was like a dog that needed to be kicked--in this case--to death.  In the case of abortion--the enemy of our soul lies to the woman, the protector--that what they are carrying within is not worth keeping--it too can be discarded--clinically by a doctor.  The first two most of us are not party too and will not as a community be able to affect as it is done behind closed doors.  But the third which tries to confuse the child does it in a place called the "public schools." 

All three cases, I believe stirs up the anger of our Almighty and Just God.  The third you and I can do something about.  Please pray and get informed as the enemy of our souls has passed HB 216 in Alabama --an anti-bullying law with a homosexual agenda and its federal counterpart HR2262 is on its way.  Thank God there is a heaven where Kelsey and the Unborn are now in the arms of our Heavenly Father.  I do believe He expects us to make a stand with the third case--these are the times that try men's souls--I hope you and I don't fail.  Please click here to hear about what you can do. Don't get depressed as we are just passing through this life and eternity in heaven awaits--hope you'll be there too.

Link to the bill--HB 216

Help For PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

I, one of the millions of beneficiary of the awesome service I take for granted most of my day would like to extend my help in the solution to our heroes suffering with PTSD.  It is late at night as I write this after having played over and over "USA Today" written by Rod Stone. 

"USA TODAY" Written by Rod Stone from orcasboy on GodTube.

 It is another awesome song like God bless the USA that will fill one with a grateful heart.  Thank you for sacrificing for me and my family.  I place the following things together in hope that it will lift you up.  The only thing I know is to point you to the One who also helps me make it through. I hope you already know him as your Savior but if not remember John 3:16 --For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.  He is just a prayer away.

My days are nothing like yours  but I hear the Battle is in the Mind and so I start with a blessing from God's word for you.

This was written by a warrior like you,David, about the God that knew him and loved him. 

Psalm 103

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

Here are videos showing how much He loves you!

 I offer you the same way I handle my stress and no, it is probably nothing compared to yours but in my mind my problems too, looms large.  I pray that God would protect your mind from the lies of the enemy that seeks to destroy you.  Remember the battle is in the mind and you need to ask God to help you take your thoughts captive.  God's Word will help you do that.

2Cor 10:3-5

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds), casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; (ASV)

If your family is also suffering look into the series of books Stormie O'Martian has written which gives absolute proof to the power of praying to our awesome God.  There is a book for your wife to pray for you and one for you to pray for her and over your children and for single people too.  I have used them and there's something wonderful in realizing you don't have to be a perfect anything when you can give to an awesome merciful God--all things are possible with Him.  Take some of your stress and give it to Him as he is able to take it off of you.  Then remember laughter doeth good like medicine.  Find some uplifting movies that will make you laugh.  I plan to post some funny videos on here for you--so check back.  May God bless you and shine his face upon you and your loved ones.

Here's some videos you may enjoy;

Man Without Limbs Who Dare To Dream Big

Things not to say

Unflinching before a gunman

Here are two links to two great Bible websites:  BibleGateway.com and TheLinkedWordProject

Here is a website that has great resources for PTSD--for Military Ministry of Campus Crusade.  They are a ministry we need to support in prayer and please consider giving to them for this Christmas.

Here's a simple but true thing I have found that works--be fully dependent on Him and here's one of the most beautiful song I have ever heard that makes me grateful I can depend on him.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

"For Children's Sake--Let The Truth Shine On The Anti-Bullying Law

2 Kings 6:16-17

"Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see."

And the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.

It has been troubling not to see more news on this issue that should be of the outmost importance in the heart of the Bible belt. But I believe there is more out there than one can see as in the scripture above in 2Kings 6:16-17. I hope you who have found this will be reading it with eyes that will be opened by the Lord on what to do. This nation that was formed based on the Word of God, who saw itself arise from the stronghold of Great Britain, needs to again humble themselves as the Founding Fathers did. Many today have found themselves with no need for God and they would convince the rest of the nation to follow suit. A part of their plan is as Kevin Jennings the safe schools czar has said--to promote homosexuality so that it can be seen in a positve light in our schools starting in Kindergarten. We have to pray for them, but at the same time we have to shine the light on truth for if we do not do our best in changing the situation that we know is wrong--God may also hold us accountable.

"The new act is regarded as an outstanding example of the provisions and flexibility of what a state law should be regarding harassment prevention," said Joe Cottle, Government Relations Director of AEA. Public input will be part of the writing of the policies by the SDE as well as by the local school system who can add to the state's model policy. Each school system has to wait until the State Dept. of Ed has an opportunity to write the model policy before finalizing a new local policy. Local boards must adopt policies and have them operative no later than July 1, 2010.

Senator Ted Little (D-Auburn) and Representative Betty Carol Graham (D-Alexander City) sponsored the new law.  The legislation does not try to list the personal characteristics of a student and prohibit harassment based on those personal characteristics; rather, the bill empowers the State Dept of Education to establish a "non-exhaustive" listing of those specific personal characteristics of a student that often lead to harassment. They will allow for public input in setting up a listing of these personal characteristics of students that may cause harassment.

Hear the latest podcast on this issue. Also go to our blog dated 10-2-09 on this Act to see what steps you can take to help stem the hidden agenda and for information you can print and hand out to parents, churches, PTA's, PTO's etc. on this new law.

Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard and the Revised Rules of Engagement

Audio: Link for Part 2 see interview for 10-31-09--Revised Rules of Engagement

Audio: Link for interview posted 10-15-09--Revised Rules of Engagement

Article:Link to original blog on Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard

We would like to thank 1st Sgt. USMC (ret.) John Bernard, father of slain Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard along with John Stone of Rep. John Carter, Tx. (co-chair of Army Caucus)-- Wayne Wood, Chm of Wiregrass 912 Group and Glenn Reeder (retired military) for their very informative discussion of the revised rules of engagement which will be aired 10-17-09. Mr. John Bernard needs our help as he sends out a call to our leaders to "let them fight" instead of tying the hands of our soldiers. He believes the war will not be lost by the military in Afghanistan but his concern is about the leaders in Washington D.C. who do not seem to understand this is a war that we must let our men fight to win. The price of losing is too great for us at home--so let's help them now while we still can.

Once you hear these men discuss in detail the issues that our military is facing today--you can not help but shake your head and feel the seemingly helplessness of the situation.  Yet when you hear the clarity in the voice of Mr. John Bernard-- that this military can do the job right if allowed--you feel a sense of urgency for the situation warrants action.  What they discussed will determine our future.  The enemy is very determined and can afford to wait us out.  They are seeing signs of weakness and they are taking advantage of it and our men are like pawns in the middle of this game the administration seems to be playing of trying to appease the Afghanistan--so they think. 

Hearing from some of those that truly wants America to fight well and win--they know the price of war is civilian casualties and in all the wars they've been through America's road to almost 0 civilian casualty count, means a losing strategy.  You need to listen to the interview and read the accounts for yourself and be shocked into calling your legislators at 202 224-3121 to let our soldiers fight!

The public relations war or as one termed it "armed social work" is an oxy moron.  Social work comes after winning the war.  The Afghans who did want us to win,  realize winning must come first and with cost.  They know it and accept it as part of what they've been through all their lives--war and some wants it to end.

But now with an administration that is sending signals of lack of resolve to win--the pro-American Afghan must tread carefully around their Taliban brothers who maybe just around the corner.

Our soldiers don't want to come home until they have won the war because they fear what may come next--the day of 9/11 would just be a small sample of what maybe to come.  So let's do what we can to also fight for them as they fight to keep this the land of the free.

Here is a link to sites worth reading:

Mr. John Bernard's site --"Let Them Fight"

Captain's Journal

"God will bless or curse this nation..." Charles Finney, 19th century evangelist

"God will bless or curse this nation according to the course CHRISTIANS take in politics," said 19th century evangelist Charles Finney.  He knew that only Christians can bring Biblical principles, like, there really is a right and wrong and God Almighty, the true and living God of the Bible,  has decided the standard, not man.   God says sexual sin of all kinds is wrong and will be punished, both in this world, in reaping what is sown, and in eternity during the judgment.  "Thou shalt not commit adultery" is one of God's Commandments.  Fornication, (sexual activity before marriage) and all sexual perversion (sodomy & same sex relations) is absolutely forbidden.  It is sin, a "transgression of the law" of God. 

So why are we Christians allowing the government to push our children down the road to immorality and to what God abhors?  Why are we allowing "Safe" Schools "Czar" Kevin Jennings to remain in an Obama appointed position where he is agressively saturating public schools with homosexuality from kindergarten through high school?  

 Where are our morals?  Are we going to allow all our states to cooperate with the homosexual advance on our children by permitting "anti-bullying" laws that do not protect all children but divide them into groups according to sexual orientation and "special characteristics"?

Come on people!  Right is right, and wrong is wrong!  Let's pray for all people and let's stand up for what's right!