Posted on 05/25/2010 7:42:06 PM PDT by MestaMachine
The best war journalist of our time has been kicked out of Afghanistan...
Let the administration boot Helen Thomas out of her seat in the front of a White House press conference and there would be outrage. Remove Jonathan Karl from the Capitol and media would revolt. Kick Andrea Kremer off Sunday Night Football and there would be pandemonium.
And yet nobody in the media seems to have much of a problem with Michael Yon being removed from the front lines by Obama/General McChrystal. Yon has openly stated the problems in Afghanistan right now and how we could lose this war, unless changes are made. He has been critical of the current rules of engagement that have put our troops in danger and could actually make this war like the Vietnam that the leftist media claimed it was early and often when Bush was president (it’s strange you don’t hear those comparisons from them anymore).
Yon’s reward? He’s lost his embed status, banished to Bangkok. Yon could return but his access might be limited and you can’t just pop in and out of that theater like it’s the neighborhood movie palace. Mess with Yon enough and his resources wear thin, but his patience will not. You will not stop this Marine. He is the ultimate warrior for those who fight and die for this country. His reports are honest, chilling, gripping and are as reflective of the battles they represent as anything I have ever read. But this administration is making it as difficult for him to do his job. You can’t believe this is by accident. The most critical battle in Afghanistan is about to take place, the battle for Kandahar, and the voice of the American soldier is not allowed in.
(Excerpt) Read more at bigjournalism.com ...
Being a USAF type, I forgot the “flag” deal with the Navy.
The only Navy folk I ever met or worked with were enlisted, or junior officers. A fine bunch indeed.
I heard a few stories about admirals however, and I knew a guy who attended the Annapolis Boat School and Bilge University. He had some stories.
shared on Facebook, FWIW
Oh, you were waiting for someone else to post it? ;-)
Just today, Michael Yon posted a rebuttal (on Facebook) to a Blackfive attack on Yon's character (suggested that Yon lied about why he was booted from the Afghan embed).
IOW, you may not get a sympathetic hearing there.
Thank you very much. I had not followed Thailand much before this crisis broke. I will make it my business to learn as much as I can. It has never been on my radar for obvious reasons. Will now expand the scope of my radar.
I appreciate your information and will definitely follow it up.
Sorry!! I know I should have, but I have been so busy at work and home.
When McChrystal took over, I heard nothing but good about him. However, everything he’s done since has lowered my opinion of him - WAY lower!
Whatever good he did before, he’ll learn: No matter what you’ve done before, suck one XXXX and you’re known as a XXXXsucker forever!
Makes you rethink the goofs who are calling for a military coup against Obama.
Why should we expect the top brass to protect basic rights or support the Constitution?
They’re bureaucrats.
The Economist has been running a series of very good articles about Thailand but are unavailable here because the hardcopy magazine is banned when addressing these topics.
A few of the Economist articles are online at:
Another good reference is Paul M. Handley's book "The King Never Smiles". It is also banned in Thailand. It is pretty biased but is very interesting in pointing out an alternate view of Thailand from what is put forth by the Thai government.
I think you are describing another action. As I remember reading. A sarg advanced quickly down the alley way and “shot” the haji through the partly open door who was pumping bullets into the good colonel. The PFC had frozen in the alley way, and Yon saw what was happening and saw the colonel go down.
Actually, Moose4 in post #90 gave me the link to Yon’s story about this incident. The legend around my BDE is that CSM Prosser ran past a frozen lieutenant and young Soldier after his weapon malfunctioned, so he dropped it, charged the haji, and beat him to death with his MICH. Apparently that is NOT what happened. CSM Prosser did run in after a haji while a frozen 2LT and young enlisted Soldier stood by without acting, fired his weapon until his magazine was empty, and charged the haji, tackling him, and finally subduing him by smashing his face into the concrete floor (this is after shooting the haji four times, one of those shots to his nuts). The haji survived after receiving medical care at our Combat Surgical Hospital at FOB Diamondback (I was in Mosul myself for about four months with 3rd Stryker BDE).
Anyway great story, and I’d heard it (incorrectly) a few times, but I never knew that the reporter in question was actually Michael Yon.
Roger that Snake Eater. And thank you for serving your country with honor. It appears Michael is taking a bumb rap. And as you re-iterate the story. Now I remember it was a young 2LT
involved as you described.
Navy folk have always been a touch pretentious. Have a safe and rewarding Memorial Day.
All true, except Yon is not and never was a Marine. He was Army SF.
Blackfive has disowned Yon, and say he has gone off the reservation. Yon at least had the guts and integrity to post this link on his FB page. Read the comments too. Damn.
Really! I didn’t know that-Thanks for the head’s up.
I have been a fan of Michael Yon, and have supported him and his efforts by donating to his continued ability to do his job.
It's up to each of us to check out suggested military blogs...some articles may appeal to one person, and yet not another.
Maybe he needs a long vacation.....I dunno.
I learned about Michael Yon on Blackfive, and I've supported him and his efforts by donating to his continued ability to do his job.
It's up to each of us to check out suggested military blogs...some articles may appeal, and some may not.
Thanks for that. I didn’t write the piece, but Yon should be there for Kandahar. I see that Fox has an embed in Afghanistan now...Rick Leventhal who was embedded in Iraq.
He is good. So maybe we won’t be running so blind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.