You may never have heard of John Bernard. The retired Marine Corps First Sergeant has become a voice for the troops fighting in Afghanistan. That's because Bernard's son Lance Corporal Joshua Bernard, was killed by an RPG in Afghanistan. A picture of the dying soldier was published by the AP against his father's wishes. The furory over the photo thrust Bernard into the national spotlight.

As reported by MSNBC:

The loss of his son and the furor over the photo have given new resonance to his view that changes must be made in how the war is fought before President Barack Obama sends any more troops to battle the Taliban and al-Qaida.

"For better or for worse, I may be the face of this. That's fine," said Bernard, sitting on his porch as he drank coffee from a Marine Corps mug. "As soon as someone bigger can run with it, they can have the whole thing."

Bernard's criticism is aimed at new rules of engagement imposed by Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the senior American commander in Afghanistan, five weeks before Joshua Bernard was killed. They limit the use of airstrikes and require troops to break off combat when civilians are present, even if it means letting the enemy escape. They also call for greater cooperation with the Afghan National Army.

Under those rules, John Bernard said, Marines and soldiers are being denied artillery and air support for fear of killing civilians, and the Taliban is using that to its tactical advantage. In a letter to his congressman and Maine's U.S. senators, Bernard condemned "the insanity of the current situation and the suicidal position this administration has placed these warriors in."

"We've abandoned them in this Catch-22 where we're supposed to defend the population, but we can't defend them because we can't engage the enemy that is supposed to be the problem," he said in an interview with the AP.

The military says the new rules, while riskier in the short run, will ultimately mean fewer casualties.
---From MSNBC.COM

They need to listen to this soldier, gang. We fight a determined, skilled enemy and if we go in there trying to fight a limited war we're going to get our butts handed to us. We are. Just look at the news.

Thank you First Sergeant for being a voice for our heroes. I know you may not read this but if you do, I'm deeply sorry for the loss of your son. Rest assured he's guarding Heaven's Gates now. And don't be quiet. You may the only sane voice Washington may hear.
Semper Fi.

If you'd like to read the whole article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33296515/ns/us_news-military/