Analyst's note: Absolutely must read. I share with you here the words of a warrior leader as written by our friend and associate, John Bernard, First Sergeant, USMC (Retired). No doubt you will rightfully draw the conclusion that David Petraeus is NOT one of our favorite generals. Read on and find out why.
Those who know me well enough, know I bleed red blood cells branded with United States Marine Corps emblems. It also follows that as a Marine, I take my Oath very seriously. I have only taken two Oaths; one to the Marine Corps and one other to my Wife. I am still bonded to both. I have been and will continue to be, ready, willing and able to defend both my Corps, my fellow Marines, my Wife, my Daughter and anything else that falls under the purview of those oaths. I hold that as an American, there is nothing on earth as sacred as the lives of Americans and most especially, the lives of those in our Military! Scream if you want to, but shame on all who dare claim to be Americans who are not first and last concerned about this country and this country's citizenry!
Having said that I will take the time to castigate anyone - ANYONE, who maliciously, carelessly or wantonly destroys the lives or well-being of any of the above; although I take no pleasure in it, I will hold all those accountable by this venue who tread on the sacred lives and honor of those precious to me and enveloped by those Oaths.
In spite of the mountain of evidence that has been presented by these venues and by the well studied students of history, Islamic Ideology and the unvarnished realities presented daily by the Afghan, the Iraqi and the Muslim world in general, General David Petraeus has insisted on following what any rational clear thinking Military Leader would have avoided. Rather than pay whatever personal and professional price was necessary to provide our Warriors and by extension, the security of these United States with the first and best strategy to defeat Al Qaida and the Taliban, he chose rather to use a strategy that history records as foolish and he insists on continuing in spite of the mounting harvest of American deaths that are the true fruit of his decision. Add to this the gaggle of JAG prosecutors, gleaning after action reports and frothing at the mouth for an opportunity to prosecute any young American Serviceman they can and his insistence is nothing less than a direct insult to every American Serviceman - and their families, who has ever donned a uniform!
Referring to him as the "architect of counter insurgency doctrine" is another insult; one directed at the Marines who authored the original document. The fact is, the only legitimate use of the strategy was directly after the United States Marine Corps printed it as the Small Wars Manual of 1940. The British used Counter Insurgency Doctrine to drive out the death squads of Mao Tse Tung from the Jungles of Malaya from 1948-1960. I say it was legitimate because the British were heavily invested in the business, governance, protection and daily lives of the Malayan people and the Malayan people were invested in them. In essence, under the leadership of General Templer, the British defended their own territory from an outside, unwanted element - and the Malayan people agreed. There has never existed any similar type of symbiotic relationship between Afghanistan and the United States. And one more point; T-H-E T-A-L-I-B-A-N A-R-E I-N-D-I-G-E-N-O-U-S!
If the average Afghan is so bloody interested in having our help to eliminate the Taliban, then how come the vast - VAST majority of IED's go unreported until one of our Marines or Soldiers finds it or is destroyed by it?
If Petraeus is such a strategic genius, why hasn't he been able to see what every enlisted man in-country and every retired Military man - Officer and Enlisted seems to be able to see (of course I am not including those who have sold their souls to the political system)?
The greater question is why is so much of the media which is typically all too ready to castigate the average infantryman and some infantry officers as murderers all too willing to fawn over the "great man"? One answer is that they are as lazy in their pursuit of historical truth as he is! They are not nearly as interested in the daily sacrifices made by the average infantryman as they are creating one-more-rock star. After all rock stars sell better and what sells better, propels you further up the ladder and fattens your wallet.
Some in the media and in political circles are concerned that the average American seems to be so disenchanted with this government that the next election is likely to be an attendance blowout. The newspaper industry is nearly extinct and the main venues of news reporting aren't even doing as well as some Blogs. Are they seriously confused about the reasons the American public no longer trusts them, their opinions or the politicians they report on? Then a quick look at this "masterful" piece of "reporting" should explain why. Just take a look at this little gem published by one of the great news sources. Really? Not one word of derision? Not one, single question about the claims of "success" - even as Afghan Soldiers continue to turn their weapons on American and NATO Marines and Soldiers?
Were any of these claims vetted? Did any editor question whether there was really anything to "celebrate"? Was anyone actually affected by the decisions this man made contacted for a rebuttal? The obvious answer is no! They are too busy being the first to cast the base of the monument to a man who chose to use a dubious strategy, COIN, to first safeguard a people who don't care whether sovereign United States Marines and Soldiers live or die. But by his reckless selection of the strategy governing our troops actions in this ideologically monolithic society hell bent on killing any and all who will not take a knee to Allah, who hold apostasy as the greatest of sins and relish in the burning of those who are, who treat women as animals, who force little girls to marry, who rape and abuse little boys, who deny education to women and little girls, who export drugs as their number one crop, who plan and export death and mutilation to the United States; he has by this choice in strategies intentionally placed the lives of our Sons and Daughters at undue risk and for this, he is applauded!?
Hey "reporters"; get a grip!
Hey Americans; you had better get off your couches and away from the TV set before someone you actually know and care about becomes "fruit" of the "great man's" folly!
Enough!!
Semper Fidelis;
John Bernard
