Analyst's note:  Absolutely must read.  This is a letter written by Lt. Michael Behenna's mother, Vicki Behenna to Dr. Savage.  You will note that the U.S. military's policy releases known Taliban fighters upon a pledge that they will not rejoin the fight against the Americans.  We are at war with this enemy, this is not a civil issue of crime on the streets of America.  In fact this is better treatment than we give our killers on the streets of America.  Such policies are "taking out" our warriors just as surely as a with a bullet to the heart.  The sources of such misguided rules should be immediately reduced to private and sent directly to the front lines as a rifleman in Afghanistan for no less than four tours as a private.

Using the same logic, I highly recommend that the U.S. Army just send Lt. Michael Behenna directly home.  I'm sure the Lt. will pledge not to shoot another Taliban fighter while in Afghanistan.

There are many readers who want to call their Senators, Rep's, etc., but have not known exactly what to talk about (scream about).  This article should certainly provide more to discuss.  I highly recommend that in addition to this article, that you read one by John Bernard, First Sergeant, USMC (Retired).  John provides historical perspective as well as detail about the strategy and inescapable impact of the religion of Islam in a war that now has battles on four continents (Asia, Africa, Europe, and North & South America). 

Still the Free World is generally not confronting the expanding threat of the Islamist, or is not doing so in the right ways.  As a result the Islamist threat will only grow stronger and more enduring.  If the Free World waivers, remain confused as to the objectives, retreats, or submits, the Islamist will press on and defeat them. 

This general issue is the number one issue of the day. If you think not; you have never been to war in the 'sand box' or elsewhere. For this generation serving over there, it is their number one concern. 

For those who think that remembering our veterans on one day each year and other wise making comments to the effect that "I support our troops" is enough -- you are wrong.  Some of us argue that this is "dead wrong" in terms of our sons and daughters who serve in our armed forces. 

As one would expect, John Bernard, a retired Marine First Sergeant, in this article speaks clearly and provides the needed insight into the subjects associated with 'Rules of Engagement' (ROE) and the Doctrine of Counter Insurgency (COIN), all blended with a generous amount of apathy from our federal government.  In his many articles, John points out that if an enemy -- which it was and continues to be -- is not assessed accurately, either due to ignorance or for politically correct reasons, it will always be more difficult to defeat that enemy. 

Our troops -- members of our American family -- continue to bleed and die unnecessarily.   Our nation remains in great peril as the result of faulty "situation assessments" that lead to employing the Counter Insurgency (COIN) strategy for combat operations against our global Islamist jihadist enemy.  Political correctness and the efforts of the Muslim Brotherhood operating in our country today continue to blind and tether the United States.  I for one have grown extremely tired of ignorant "civilian experts" in federal positions and academics (this accounts for some in uniform) who are killing our troops just as surely as if they were pulling the trigger or setting the IEDs themselves.

Consider yourself being directed to fight under such conditions.  The lives of your sons and daughters serving in the military in Afghanistan are thought, by most, to be endangered by violations of ROE.  These ROE were to have been created by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who was recently relieved of command, and was then replaced by Gen. David Petraeus.  In fact, Gen McChrystal's senior commanding officer had been Gen. David Petraeus.  Gen. David Petraeus has had the "opportunity to excel" in terms of getting the Rules of Engagement fixed .... he has not done so.

This problem goes even higher.  We have here further evidence that the global Islamist jihadist have infiltrated one of our highest government offices.  Admiral Mike Mullen Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has either been "mentally blinded" by the jihadist enemy, is himself seditious in nature, or insane.  The results to our national security, the safety of our military forces, and thus your personal safety and that of your family is the same.  Only how we treat Adm. Mullen's personal situation differs.

No doubt my thoughts expressed here to those who have not fought will be unpopular in some circles, but this old Marine believes they need to be said.  And last check I still have freedom of speech.  Quoting General Lewis W. Walt, USMC (one of my favorite Generals) - I know I'm dating myself - "I think the future of our country boils down to this simple proposition:  either we as individual Americans will assume the responsibilities of citizenship or our nation, as the land of the free, will be destroyed" (page 98, The Eleventh Hour).  Responsibility includes speaking out, especially when we see that the fate of our nation is involved.  It is good to remember that our individual welfare and fate are NOT separate and distinct from that of our nation.

I grew up at a time when war was considered "hell on earth" and I agree with this well-written article.  I never have followed the concept of "Lets have a war, the worst you can do is break even -- want to play?"  We are engaged in a war that will likely last for my lifetime and beyond - the theaters may change - in the Middle East, I'm not always sure for what, but we seem to have no objection if the global Islamist jihadist enemy brings the fight to us through subversion, infiltration, or by some other coalition.

Now for the letter from Vicki Behenna to Dr. Savage.

"Dr. Savage,

I'm not sure if you know, but Michael's recent request for clemency was denied by Secretary Mitrano three days before Christmas.  As our family waits for the Army Court of Appeals to reach a decision on Michael's case, my husband and I contemplate our next approach on Michael's behalf.

I read two articles in the New York Times about the military's policy which releases known Taliban fighters upon a pledge that they will not rejoin the fight against the Americans.  I also know, like Ali Mansur, that the military has for some time been releasing known Al Qaeda members and other insurgents in Iraq under the military's "catch and release" policy. This is occurring even though the military knows that over 80% of the released detainees will rejoin the fight.    As a result, I have decided to ask certain Congressmen, on behalf of my son, to ask the Army to commute Michael's sentence and show him the same mercy that we are showing our enemy.  I'm asking them to act on Michael's behalf as well as on behalf of other combat soldiers who are incarcerated in Leavenworth.    (Sgt Evan Vela was an Army sniper, on a mission in Iraq, when he shot a suspected insurgent who found the snipers asleep.  He received a 10 year sentence.  Sgt. John Hatley, Sgt. Michael Leahy and Sgt. Joseph Mayo shot 4 insurgents that they had just been in a firefight with after the insurgents had laid down their weapons. They were informed these 4 insurgents would not be held and would have to be released under the "catch and release" policy.  Sgt. Hatley, having served his country 19 1/2 years, with no criminal history, was convicted and received a 40 year sentence.  Sgts Michael Leahy and Joseph Mayo having honorably served their country on multiple deployments for many years, again with no criminal history, each received sentences of 20 years.  These soldiers have all had their parole and clemency requests denied by the Army.)

Dr. Savage, your listeners have been so supportive of Michael and our family I am once again asking for your help.  I'm requesting that your listeners help Michael by asking the Army, through their Congressmen and Senators, to commute Michael's sentence.  I think I told you that while Michael was pending charges of premeditated murder, and after he redeployed to the US, he was assigned to work on President's Bush's security detail during the President's last visit to the 101st Airborne Division.  The Army has never considered Michael to be an danger and there appears to be no reason to keep him incarcerated, particularly knowing how the conviction was obtained. 

During the Vietnam war, Lt. William Calley's sentence was reduced by the Army to 3 years home confinement because the American public demanded it.  I remember as a little girl the request to "leave our lights on for Calley."  I'm requesting the same help for Michael.  Please help me start a movement to free my son, but commuting his sentence.  We continue to pray that his conviction will be reversed, but until that happens, we want him home.

Also, I wanted you to know that my husband recently found an interview report of Sgt. Dorian, who conducted the 4 interrogations of Ali Mansur when he was transferred to COB Speicher after Michael's platoon detained him. (I can provide you with copies if you like.)   In that report, Sgt. Dorian confirms that Ali Mansur was in fact a terrorist.  It was also his recommendation, after the 4 interrogations of Mansur, that Mansur not be released but instead sent to Bucca prison for further interrogation.  Unfortunately,  someone in a position of authority ordered the release of this terrorist in spite of the fact that he was a terrorist and had killed at least two American soldiers.  I want to know why. 

I now completely understand Michael's decision to conduct a field interrogation of Mansur and the harshness in which he treated Mansur.  Michael knew Mansur was a terrorist and he knew that the only way he could stop the IED attacks and protect his platoon was to find the money person and the explosives.  Michael did everything a young officer could do to try to protect himself and his soldiers from a known terrorist, and the system failed not just Michael, but every infantry soldier who had to patrol that area every day of their deployment.  Don't military commanders understand that the soldiers/Marines want to survive their tour of duty and return home to their families as well?  It's easy for someone sitting in an office, in a comfortable chair at some division headquarters in Iraq, to make a decision to release a killer like Mansur, but what about the soldiers/Marines who have to face a guy like Mansur again and again?  What about their lives?  So many soldiers/ Marines, including my son, have been hurt, maybe even killed by the "catch and release" policy.

I wanted you to know this information."

Thank you again,

Vicki Behenna