| < Prev Article | Next Article > |
|---|
By Michael Yon
25 September 2009
The surprise discontinuation of my embedment from the British Army left my schedule in a train wreck. Until that decisive moment, I am told, that my embed with the British Army had lasted longer than anyone else’s; other than Ross Kemp’s. I’ve also been told that I’ve spent more time with the British Army in Iraq than any correspondent. So it’s fair to say, we have good history together.
In the last 12 months, I’ve embedded with the British Army in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, then over to the jungles of Brunei to attend a man-tracking school, and again back in Afghanistan. During that time, I’ve also been with U.S. forces in Iraq, the Philippines, and Afghanistan. I’ve accompanied the Lithuanians in Afghanistan and also been downrange for months without any troops or official assignment.
This dispatch, and many others, should have been about soldiers at war. But it’s not. This dispatch is being written in downtown Kandahar City and I have not seen a soldier in days. The Taliban is slowing winning this city. There have been many bombings and shootings since I arrived in disguise.
In 2006, Iraq was melting down and I had just written twelve dispatches that clearly stated we were losing in Afghanistan. Those dispatches caused a public uproar and the consequences were such that U.S. military refused to let me back into Iraq. Because of the U.S. military censorship in Iraq, I published a dispatch in the Weekly Standard titled, Censoring Iraq. General Petraeus emailed to me immediately, and if not for his intervention, there would have been Censoring Iraq II, III, IV, V…. Ultimately, dozens of dispatches about soldiers have been forever lost.
I returned to Iraq in 2006, and in 2007, I reported that the war had turned around and progress was clear. In 2008, I wrote that we had won the Iraq war. And although recent bombings have grabbed headlines, overall violence continues to decrease.
This brings us to Afghanistan, 2009.
My latest embed with British 2 Rifles, which began in July, was extended on at least two occasions. The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) had recently agreed that I would spend roughly one more month with 2 Rifles. My scheduled embeds with the United States Air Force and Marines were specifically arranged around the British schedule, and I was enjoying reporting on the excellent British troops.
However, on August 24th, with no warning, unseen faces of MoD discontinued my embed from 2 Rifles. The message that I was no longer embedded was emailed to me by Media Ops, just as I returned from an interesting firefight in the Green Zone. Luckily, none of our guys got hit, but I think the British soldiers may have killed some Taliban.
I do not know the reason for the embed termination. My best guess is that it relates to my sustained criticism that the British government is not properly resourcing its soldiers.
Before going further, it is essential to underscore the importance of the “Media Ops” in the war. When Media Ops fails to help correspondents report from the front, the public misses necessary information to make informed decisions about the war. Many soldiers in the British Media Ops are true professionals who strive constantly to improve at their tasks and work very well with correspondents. Their professionalism and understanding of the larger mission—ultimate victory—provide an invaluable service to the war effort.
But there are a few who should not be in uniform and it takes only one roach leg to spoil a perfect soup.
For example—without giving names so as not to tar and feather someone for his entire life when he still has a chance to change his behavior—the British Major running Media Ops at Camp Bastion has been particularly problematic. Even before my embed started with 2 Rifles, his words raised red flags among the correspondents about his priorities.
I had a specific incident with this British Media Ops Major.
The Major and I were driving in Camp Bastion around midday when it was very hot. A British soldier ran by wearing a rucksack. He was drenched in sweat under the blazing, dusty desert. I smiled because it’s great to see so many soldiers who work and train hard. Yet the Major cut fun at the soldier, saying he was dumb to be running in that heat. I nearly growled at the Major, but instead asked if he ever goes into combat. The answer was no. And, in fact, the Major does not leave the safety of Camp Bastion.
That a military officer would share a foul word about a combat soldier who was prepping for battle was offensive. Especially an officer who lives in an air-conditioned tent with a refrigerator stocked with chilled soft drinks. Just outside his tent are nice hot and cold showers. Five minutes away is a little Pizza Hut trailer, a coffee shop, stores, and a cookhouse.
This very Major had earned a foul reputation among his own kind for spending too much time on his Facebook page. I personally saw him being gratuitously rude to correspondents. Some correspondents—all were British—complained to me that when they wanted to interview senior British officers, they were told by this Major to submit written questions. The Major said they would receive videotaped answers that they could edit as if they were talking with the interviewee. (Presumably, senior British officers are avoiding the tough questions, such as, “So, when do you plan to send enough helicopters?”)
When I asked a different Media Ops officer about meeting with a senior British General in Afghanistan, I was told that submitting a CV (curriculum vitae) would be helpful, to which I laughed. A CV? How about this:
Name: Michael Yon
Profession: Writer
Experience: Years
Notes: I will be in and affecting your battle space for years to come. (By the way, you are losing the war. Hiding from correspondents does not change that fact.)
This war is moving fast and there is no time for games. If a general does not want to tell his story, someone will tell it for him. He will have failed by losing another winnable media battle.
On a sidebar, before this article was published I was invited to the Netherlands by the esteemed James “Maggie” Megallas to attend an incredible Dutch remembrance for our World War II veterans.
For those who don’t know him, James Megellas is a retired U.S. Army officer who commanded Company "H" of the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. Maggie is the most-decorated officer in the history of the 82nd Airborne Division, having received a Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star, and been nominated for the Medal of Honor. Maggie at 92 and is an extraordinary man. He can give an eloquent speech for an hour without a single written note.
He has spent a couple months in Afghanistan—in the worst places. He’s a true leader and a wise man, known to General McChrystal and General Petraeus. General Petraeus told me last week that CENTCOM had okayed Maggie’s trip to Afghanistan. Maggie is an American treasure. Last week in the Netherlands, “Maggie” was spending time General Petraeus and with European royalty, including Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. General Petraeus and World War II veterans stayed several days at the same hotel Maggie and I were in.
In Holland, folks were lining up to honor and pay tribute to our World War II veterans and General Petraeus. I didn’t want to distract General Petraeus with any questions while he was so busy. But on about the third day, there was a tap on my shoulder and I was told that General Petraeus had some time if I wanted to talk.
I asked the good General some tough questions on Afghanistan—the kind that would end discussions with timid people—yet, like normal, he fielded those questions with the candor that I so respect in him and have come to expect. The same has happened to me with the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, and other top military leaders. Gates and Petraeus will field challenging, difficult questions and will take what you throw at them. Yet the British Media Ops in Afghanistan wants correspondents to submit written questions so they can provide tidy answers. That’s a sad joke and there are many correspondents, including me, who are not laughing.
More on the trip to Netherlands will be forthcoming, but now back to Afghanistan:
At Camp Bastion there are two tents at Media Ops. One tent is for the Media Ops staff and the other is for the itinerant correspondents. When ever the Internet died in the correspondents’ tent, the Major in question let the journalists use the Internet in the staff tent. That was helpful and appreciated. But he locked the door at night (the tent has a door) and kept it that way until the morning so that no correspondent would wake him with keyboard tapping. Not helpful on transmitting information.
At a glance, that seems trivial stuff, really. But it’s not trivial when you know that these are the same Media Ops people—who do not leave their base or go on missions—who are spooling out “the message” to the media. They are clueless about the state of the war in Afghanistan. For instance, many of the Media Ops officers will insist that we have enough helicopters in Afghanistan. Those officers are either completely oblivious to the actuality of the situation or lying.
General Petraeus told me straight up that we don’t have enough and that we doubled our helicopters in the last four months and are in the process of fielding “two more fistfuls.” (He did not give specific numbers.) Those BS-filled officers who deny the obvious are, in fact, symptomatic to why we are losing the war.
When I deliver good news, out rolls the red carpet. Bad news, and it’s time to fight again. Only now it’s not Censoring Iraq, it’s Censoring Helmand. And it’s not the U.S. doing it this time, but the British government. The British people are demanding truth and they deserve accountability. They aren’t getting it from Camp Bastion.
Some of the Media Ops guys in Afghanistan are good at something such as threatening future access if a correspondent shows “attitude” about being poorly treated. My answer is go to hell. They can take their access and. . . . I work for the soldiers, for the readers, and for the people in general. If Media Ops chooses to be an obstacle, that is their choice.
After being summarily disembedded it took days—due to the helicopter shortage—to catch a helicopter from the Green Zone and head over to the posh Media Ops tent. There I found the same Major still up to his old attitude with some of the correspondents.
Meanwhile, because of the abrupt embed, my scheduling problems were unfolding. The U.S. Marines, of whom I have never seen treat anyone like the British Major treats correspondents, wanted to take me. But the earliest I could embed with them was on 16 September. This fell at the same time I needed to punch out and head to Eindhoven in The Netherlands for the World War II remembrance ceremonies which I had been invited to long ago. The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNAF) had made arrangements to fly me from Afghanistan to Eindhoven. Disembedded or not, it should have been a simple matter for me to have a few days, even out of pure courtesy, where I could settle some business with the U. S. Air Force and U.S. Marines. But the boss of Media Ops in Afghanistan, Lt Col Nick Richardson in Lashkar Gah, through the Major at Bastion, demanded that I leave the Regional Command South (RC-South) which is under British control.
I said in essence, hold on, partner, are you saying that you are knowingly interfering with my ability to arrange an embed with the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marines? Especially after you abruptly released me as correspondent? Because if that’s what Media Ops was saying, then we were going to have a Texas-sized fight.
The boss of Media Ops in Afghanistan Lt. Col. Richardson has tweaked other peoples’ BS sensors on the helicopter issue, including Daniel Bennett at the Frontline Club. Richardson is doing more damage to the war effort than the Taliban media machine. By perpetrating falsehoods that undermine our combat capacity, Richardson has helped the enemy.
Some of the smokescreens are less important but they are demonstrative of the pattern: On 20 August a, CH-47 helicopter was shot down by a Taliban RPG during a British Special Forces mission. Richardson reported that the aircraft landed due to an engine fire. Some hours later, while I was on a mission nearby, the Taliban were singing over the radios about shooting it down. I heard the rumble when the helicopter was destroyed by airstrikes. The Taliban knew they hit the helicopter. So who is Richardson lying to? Not the enemy…unless the enemy is the British public.
Stephen Grey and others have noted the censorship:
“Despite the risk of being blacklisted and refused access to report from the frontline, journalists are speaking out about what they say is the government's attempt to control the news. It is "lamentable", says one Fleet Street foreign editor; the Times correspondent Anthony Loyd describes it as "outrageous"; Christina Lamb of the Sunday Times calls it "indefensible"; it is "redolent of Comical Ali", says the Sun's defence editor, Tom Newton Dunn.
“Almost all journalists travelling with British forces are ordered to email their copy to the military's press officers in Helmand before publication. Many fear that negative coverage could mean trips back to the frontline are cancelled or delayed.”
The Media Ops boys are treating this like a game.
Eventually I had a meeting at the same table with a U.S. Air Force officer, a U.S. Marine officer, and the British Major from Media Ops in an attempt to work out a solution that would get me with the Air Force or Marines. The Major was docile in the presence of the two other officers. The Marine and Air Force officers said that they were willing and happy to help. Despite their goodwill, the scheduling train wreck had other moving issues stacking up, and the British Media Ops weren’t done with playing games.
In addition to the disembed, the British Media Ops were insisting that I leave RC-South at once. Let’s be clear – this was Afghanistan, not London where I can easily hail a cab or jump on The Tube. By their demands, the Media Ops folks were ignoring the obvious truth that it takes time, planning, and much coordination to move anyone, soldiers or correspondents, around Afghanistan.
Also, Media Ops knew that I was waiting for two important packages to arrive at Camp Bastion – packages that took a great amount of time and expense to send for. When I brought this up, the Major said he had checked into the packages and that because there was no FedEx in Camp Bastion, my packages must be in Kabul.
This was a flat out lie. When soldiers hear something that is patently false, they call it “bullshit.” I looked at the Major and said, “Bullshit,” to which he stomped out. He later said I had cursed him, which, if by calling him on his lie he implied that I was cursing him, then so be it; he was right. It was bullshit because there is a FedEx and a DHL in Camp Bastion. Something you would think (and hope) a Media Ops guy would know about his own camp.
The Major said again that Lt. Col. Nick Richardson demanded that I leave RC-South, and that Media Ops would forward my satellite and night vision gear that was in transit. Before the Major had stomped out, I said that I was not leaving Camp Bastion until those packages were in my hands. I told him to call Lt. Col. Nick Richardson at Lashkar Gah—a nearby base—and say that if Richardson wants me gone, he’d need to call the Royal Military Police (RMP). The satellite gear is crucial to the operation and the night vision gear is expensive. I was not going to leave without the gear unless under arrest. I had heard the Major arrogantly tell a correspondent how a soldier had punched another correspondent and “knocked him on his ass.” Bullying apparently had been working for him; he was still doing it.
“Go ahead,” I said, “Call the RMPs right now. Have them come down and flex cuff me and put me on an airplane out of here.” I waited for the RMP’s to arrive and arrest me. At least they would be professionals.
There is the maxim that a customer can judge the cleanliness of a restaurant’s kitchen by the restroom. After much experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, I have discovered another: Soldiers always treat correspondents they way they treat the local people. When soldiers treat correspondents badly, they treat local people even worse and are creating enemies. Those troops who brag about how they mistreat or detest correspondents are abusing and resentful of the local population, and they cannot win this sort of war. The people will kill them and the media will bash them and they will blame the people and the media. When a soldier alienates sympathetic correspondents, he has no real chance against mortal enemies such as the Taliban and al Qaeda, and they will defeat him. Yet there is subtlety: for “the people,” in the case of Media Ops, is you.
The Major doesn’t deal with Afghans. Afghans are not his target and it is not correspondents who are being denied access. YOU are being denied access. YOU are resented and deceived, and people like Minister of Defence, Bob Ainsworth, wish to separate realities from readers.
The reader is my boss, and my job is to observe, analyze where possible, and report back. When Media Ops or others try to deceive my boss, I fight for my boss. That’s my job and duty.
I told some U.S. Marine officers about issues with Media Ops. The Marines wanted to take me but there was a pesky twelve-day wait before I could start with them, and as mentioned I needed to get to The Netherlands. Luckily, the Marines and Air Force helped me get the packages.
The problem with embedding with the U.S. Air Force, as with the U.S. Marines, was timing. The U.S. Air Force rescue folks, the Pedros, were going home to America and were being replaced but there was a window of opportunity before that happened. The bottom line: Air Force Pedros took me on three missions, but it could have been a lot more.
Meanwhile, the British Media Ops, who backed down from the arrest, made a Plan B. The Major said I must leave the media tent because fourteen journalists were coming and needed space. There were six bunks and two cots, meaning all fourteen spots would be filled. I asked the Major who the journalists were and when they were coming. The Major answered that he didn’t exactly know who was coming or when, but they were (or might be) coming, and they needed space. The Major was easier to read than a five year-old, and too sad a specimen to be angry with. I had been sleeping outside for weeks and would readily continue, but instead contacted the Pedro guys who let me stay with them. Ironically, our Pedro teams happened to be staying with British 2 Rifles at Camp Bastion—and so 2 Rifles welcomed me back.
This was all bizarre. Although the British Media Ops kicked me out, I was now staying in a tent with the U.S. Air Force who were also staying with British soldiers, so I was right back at home.
Word had somehow spread that I told Media Ops to have me arrested. I had not mentioned the confrontation. Word must have gotten out from Media Ops themselves and some journalists soon realized that a fight was on. The correspondents I was talking with did not like Media Ops—not one bit—and support poured in.
An email came from a fellow correspondent with these words:
“During all of this time I was aware that your own predicament was also strained with the Pic [Media Ops]. Rumour reached me in […] that you had told the pic team in Bastion that if they wanted you out then they’d have to get the RMPs to arrest you, and that they were forced to back down! (I don’t know if the story was true or not but it was a huge morale boost to all who heard it in [...].)”
The British soldiers from 2 Rifles were angry with Media Ops for ending the reporting and their families are forever deprived of the dispatches that would have been written. Media Ops said they needed the space, but nobody replaced me in combat, and nobody is likely to. Media Ops lied again.
Meanwhile, British citizens began demanding answers from their government.
A question was asked and Minister of Defence Bob Ainsworth made public his reply:
Ann Winterton (Congleton, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Defense for what reasons the journalist Michael Yon is no longer embedded with British armed forces in Afghanistan.
Hansard source (Citation: HC Deb, 14 September 2009, c2121W)
Bob Ainsworth (Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence; Coventry North East, Labour)
Opportunities to embed with Task Force Helmand are in high demand from across the media—national, regional, print, broadcast, specialist and new media. It is not possible to meet all requests and slots must be time-limited to ensure that the opportunities are shared as widely as possible. A normal embed for a national news organisation will last on average around two to three weeks, including time for travel.
Michael Yon had been embedded with British forces on a number of occasions before his recent visit—twice in Iraq in 2007, and once in Afghanistan in 2008. His latest embed had been scheduled to last for two weeks but it was extended to take account of delays to his arrival.
In all, his stay was extended twice and he was embedded for five weeks—much longer than is normally the case, and longer than had been agreed with him before he went. He was facilitated by British forces in a number of locations and given a high level of access both to the operations and to our personnel. At the end of this five-week period Task Force Helmand ended his embed as they were no longer able to support it given their other commitments, including other media visits.
That’s hogwash, Mr. Ainsworth. Pure hogwash!
The fact that the British Minister of Defence (MoD) would go on record with hogwash is again symptomatic of a much larger problem. Mr. Ainsworth is lying to the British public about the helicopter issue in Afghanistan. Mr. Ainsworth tells the British public that British soldiers have enough helicopters. British troops are suffering—even dying—for those lies. Mr. Ainsworth is, in effect, murdering British soldiers by not resourcing them.
If the British MoD is demanding that I be complicit in their lies to gain access to their soldiers, I decline. I strongly believe that the embed was cancelled due to my criticism of the helicopter shortage. Yet helicopters are just the most obvious issue that needs to be raised and addressed.
This story rings true:
From The Sunday Times
August 30, 2009Bob Ainsworth in 'cover-up' over soldier's death
Bob Ainsworth, the defense secretary, has been accused of a cover-up over the death of the first British soldier to be killed in action in the Nato operation in the Helmand province of Afghanistan, by smearing his commanding officer.
The story continues:
“This will prove Bob Ainsworth was trying to cover up the real reason for James’s death. He was trying to shift blame away from the lack of equipment for which the MoD was responsible and negligent,” Philippson said.
Bob Ainsworth is covered in British blood and painfully deceptive. Henceforth, he will always be known as “Bullshit Bob” to me.
My relationship with the British military is not diminished and I would go into combat with their soldiers anytime. My respect for British soldiers is immense and undying. But I’m ready to throw down with Media Ops if they even glance in my direction. I refuse to work with the crew at Camp Bastion.
It’s hard to forget the Major’s cutting insults at the soldier who was training in the heat as a commendable young man. Any combat troop, whether they are pilots, PJs, sailors, special operations, or my favorite—the infantry—should never be the subject of jokes or derision from any military leader of any rank. The infantry soldiers are out there living like animals, taking bullets and getting blown up and, all while the Major sits back in his comfortable tent, playing on Facebook and watching The Simpsons. Those combat troops, British and American, are my family. That Major and his ilk should not cut fun of them.
Bottom line for the bad apples: Nobody is asking for access. This is not a game. Stay out of the way.
[Note: Word arrived that the Media Ops crew has been replaced during a normal rotation.]
Trackback(0)
TrackBack URI for this entryComments (150)
Subscribe to this comment's feedYou tell 'em Michael!
David
Michael Yon: Greatest War Correspondent in the World
Mr
...
It saddens me that men putting their neck on the line everyday have to moonlight when they should be resting with loved ones so they have what they need to come home after their next tour.
One hopes that the ministers do something useful for once and get the MoD to change their ways before it is too late.
Thanks for telling it like it is.
Right on bro'
You are an inspiration to all of us - and I'm so thankful to be able to read your reports. Keep the faith, keep up the good work, and keep on challenging the REMF B.S. peddlers. In my eyes, they're just as bad as the Taliban.
Strike-Hold!
Keep going on truth
This is Vietnam syndrom keep them lying around. What kind of soldiers these guys!!!!!!
I really respect on True Wariors, you are one of them.... Pedros, Marines and others Hurahhhh
If you have problem go to Turkish Troops I assure you you are going to see humanitarian site of army
keep us posted, thank you very much
Keep standing up to them Michael
...
Celer et Audax
UK Media Ops is not all bad
However I cannot speak on behalf of what is happening in Afghanistan, just believe me that we are not all REMFS and purveyors of smoke and mirrors.
...
...
It is unfortunate that you should have come across one officer in particular who should have tarnished your view of all media ops operators; just as one individual journalist's behaviour can easily tarnish the reputation of many good ones in the minds of the military - something that those of us working hard in media ops try daily to counter and remedy.
Mr
I love reading your reports mate,your respect for the soldiers around you shines bright in your dispatches,which makes it hard to read that your getting disrespected,
Anyway buddy,keep reporting and feed our hunger for the truth,
Doing a fantastic job mate.
Despair
keep it up, we (and our service men and women) need all the truth and support we can get.
As you have alredy realised the UK is governed by insects and the only important issue for them, is to save their own skins.
As you make clear, the Brits (and the Yanks) at the grass roots level, still produce great peple and heroes, like those who fought at Arnhem, unfortunately our political leaders are complete SCUM. God help us all.
Thanks
Fire for effect, brother
God bless, and De Opresso Liber.
Shame
Michael, I don't doubt that being called a true hero will embarrass you, but as anyone who has followed your reporting for the last few years will know, going into combat against murderous savages, armed with little more than a camera, for the sole purpose of telling the true story of OUR soldiers (the soldiers of a government elected by us) makes you a hero. Certainly as much of a hero as the soldiers. This does not belittle their status in my eyes in any way. It should be read as elevating your status to what it should be.
Further, anyone who has followed you for some time will also know the truth in what you say, ie that the media battle is a major part of the battle against the enemy. Surely the media ops team should be able to see that. Surely the government minister (comfortable at home, with his expenses claims!) should be able to see that.
As most of the earlier posters have pointed out, the truth will come out and government's lies willl be found out. Even the British tabloid media seem reluctant to only print the "Official" line.
It is a disgrace that BS Bob is able to so blatantly lie, that the Media Ops team were able to treat you so badly, and that our troops are being cast aside like this by the very prople who ordered them to go there in the first place.
To everyone reading, PLEASE support michael and encourage others to do the same. Also, please pass on the website details to all your friends and encourage them to read the truth.
Finally, as always, stay safe, Michae and may your God keep you from harm.
tell it like it is
great way to report facts and support the troops. Officers need the accountability not only to their own commanding officers, but also to the public. Consider the Mai Lai massacre.
Sad, but true.
But alas, talk is of another 1,000 British troops being deployed later this year, and the possibility of expanding the British presence to 12,000 next year. There is no doubt in my mind they will be ignored by the government. The excuse will be they'll increase flying hours by overworking what few airframes are out there. Hopefully fine journalism such as yours, and a new hopefully more responsible government, will improve conditions for all troops in Afghanistan and make the war winnable.
Oh and Bullshit Bob is also known by a few other names in Britain; Bob Aintworthshit (my personal favourite), Bob Ainsworthless, Sideshow Bob... the list goes on and on really.
What you say is important
The way he's acting is appalling, dangerous and very lower class.
Plus Facebook - ! How many cats does he own? My 17 year old nephew is so over Facebook.
Poor old England - letting out the Lockerbie bomber and cancelling your embed - both are clear signs of corruption.
LIES there , LIES Here, LIES EveryWhere ...Its's A Political Thing , once your Elected ! ---- Right ?????
Thanks
...
Give 'em hell!
Hope you manage to redress and get back with the US Marines soon. Infantry give the cloest insight into what's happening out there...I'd rather know we're losing this war now, in time to reverse that, than find out after we have to withdraw with out tails between our legs!
Bully Pulpit
Godspeed Michael.
Why are our biggest enemies always our own?
I lived in Afghanistan for several months, working directly with the men leaving the wire daily. Most officers living in those air conditioned rooms understand how well they live compared to the real fighters. Most of us also understand that our own senior leadership, military and political, are the single biggest blockade to operational success we have---not the Taliban, not Al Queda, not insurgents. Our own "leaders" are the ones standing n the way! You called it right, saying that the MoD is in essence murdering soldiers. They should not get off lightly due to their distance from the front lines. They ARE murderers! Worse, they intentionally lie and deceive the public AND lower military personnel. Why? Typically the answer boils down to selfish political ambition.
Respect
Good Luck Michael in your future work.
Thank You
A British Squaddie
Censorship and Propaganda the British Wy
The problem is that now it has got to the point where the truth is getting out and it is hurting the effort in Afghanistan.
Mr
Keep up the reports and stay safe.
Keep telling the truth
I'm ashamed of my government. Ainsworth & his cronies should hang their heads in shame. Unfortunately their conduct is indicative of all that is wrong in British politics at the moment, which is completely addicted to spinning the bad news to the point where it becomes laughable.
Keep up the excellent work - you obviously DO have support amongst the British political establishment - it's not often you see journalists being named in parliamentary questions....
Who is that Major?
BS Bob
Truth has a funny way of showing up , you will be vindicated although that is not your motive.
Thanks for all you do for all our guys.
a grateful soldier mom
Keep it up man.
Institutional British Arrogance
My friends who served in Viet Nam called "soldiers" like the good Major R.E.M.F.'s. It is sad to see they are still around.
Sums up the current government
I hope this doesn't stop you from future embeds with us. We love reporters who tell the whole truth.
Best of luck,
Rob
Keep up the good work!
Who are we fooling
it makes me ashamed to be British until I remember it is only the politicos and the small part of the media infected by them which seems to be JHF and Media Ops who play these games. The rest of the army is fantastic and their actions and attitude are inspiring to all of us at home.
The point is we all know they censor the truth and none of us believe them so we turn to reporters like yourself to find out the truth. I am not sure the politicos in power at preent who are known as the kings of spin realise how much harm it does them in the eyes of the british public. For a number of years now , about eight, it seems that they believe they can fix an issue by sending out a positive story as opposed to really fixing the issue. We do not and will not trust them over any issue as we instantly think oh its just their spin,.That a control freak in the army should try to further his career by pandering to them and that the Lt Col should do the same is a disgrace but perhaps they are looking for friends post army career. You should name and shame.
Your work is worth its weight in Gold
Thank you for your detailed and telling accounts, which you seem to produce day after day. Your efforts are making a difference and helping in this war effort. We're behind you!
Spread the truth
A different angle
Blistering Dispatch
showing the faces and lives of the "Queen of Battle" and the "Grunts" we send in harm's way...
Unfortunately, I'd say bad leadership is WORSE than the Taliban
Michael,
Keep doing what you do.
REMF's
Our Troops and our Allies deserve to have their stories told, and those who love them and support them, as well as those who are otherwise uninformed, need to hear all.
Thank you for being the Ernie Pyle of this generation.
...
Did My. Yon hit a nerve with you?
He didn't label all those who don't face combat as folks who don't deserve respect; he has singled out and named specific individuals for their conduct.
Those that have access to hot showers and pizza, and who support the mission and those who are facing bullets should take no umbrage with Mr. Yon's words.
Sounds like you're the self-important one, and I dare say that Mr. Yon would not hesitate to tell you to your face if indeed you acted as the Major in this dispatch has acted.
Hey....different angle
Here: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Yon
and the MAN (Mr.Yon) has 3 times more time in combat than you do. You are right on one thing he can bring himself home whenever he chooses.....BUT he stays and stays much longer than you to bring your story home. That is a hero not the one who "has to" do something but the one who chooses on his own to make a difference!
Good report, please keep at it.
@ A Different Angle
...
In any case, Michael Yon's dispatch said nothing of "REMFs," and only tried to illustrate how those occasional few in leadership positions cause more harm than good to the war effort. That REMF major is obviously one such case. If you read the article more carefully, you would see that the issue is not necessarily about how much time Michael at spent embedded, but, rather, that he was disembedded for reporting information that some of those "leaders" didn't like. As retribution, they disembedded him and flatly lied to him and the public about the reasons. That is the issue!
Director of Media and Communications MOD
Very concerned to read your post. I was aware that your embed had ended but was not aware of some of the issues you raise here. I will look into this and post a report next week.
I would welcome the chance to discuss your experiences when you are next in the UK.
Ann Winterton
keep it up
I hope you are able to soon embed with the USMC.
Keep doing what you are doing.
A thank you from a brit.
...
Cheers
Problem
Michael, I hope the gov and MOD turn this round yesterday, I fear that the political disconnect is severe, and I am not at all positive in this, but I hope it does not happen.
However, I suspect that the truth and pen are mighty weapons, and that other stories and details can be media weapons of mass destruction. Perhaps the simple truth here is that if governments and their political officers are more interested in their angle, and not winning a war, and feel they are more important than our men, then the gloves should come off, as they have in this article.
Michael, keep fighting the good fight, and please do not give up on the British Squaddies. More than ever, they need your help, and more than ever, clearly, we need the truth.
Thanks (again)
Please keep up your good work.
All the best
At What Point?
At what point America, Canada, Great Brittain? At what point?
A Colorado Soldier's Question.
Facts, Just Facts....Thanks for it
Embed woes.
Sorry to see the Brit Gov / MOD have dismissed you from embedding with a slight wave of the hand. That was like shooting themselves in the foot in my mind. Your reporting was always very positive on the performance of the British troops. I have followed your blog for many years now and enjoy your frankness, not always cormfotable with it sometimes, but I do know you tell it how you see it and that is usually 99.99% accurate. So I really "believe' in what you report and do enjoy your style of reporting when you are in the thick of it with the troops. I have alway enjoyed your photos, but recently you have excelled yourself with those nightime shots taken with your latest cameras. Lets see some more of those fantastic photo shots, they make me feel I'm right there with you and the soldiers.
I'm British by birth, but been living in FL. US for about 11 years. My son Phil is in the 173rd US Airborne, was deployed in Afghanistan in 2007 -2008 and previously did a US Army Reserve 15 month tour in Iraq 2004-2005 and will deploy again soon to Afghanistan. (He is due out of the Army in Jan 2010, but it looks like he will be stop lossed until he completes this next tour.) No complaints from Phil, though I know his fiancée is dissapointed.
My Dad was in the RAF and was in North Africa in WWII helping defeat the Desert Fox Gen. Rommel. My Grandfather was Royal Navy in WWI, veteran of the Battle of Jutland.
Recently my cousin Gary Quilliam whilst serving on Active duty in RAF was KIA in Afghanistan when his RAF Nimrod Aircraft suddenly caught fire and crashed killing all on board shortly after refuelling in flight.
So when you say the families of British Soldiers you embedded will miss you reporting on their sons I can definitely understand what they must feel. So please keep up your excellent work, I hope some good sense prevails and you are invited to embed with the Brits again soon. BTW; Yes I do agree it is pretty obvious that they do need more Helicopters.
How aobut the other side
Thank You
Thanks for your great writing!
I enjoyed the "Pedros" and "The Kopp-Etchells Effect" articles very, very much.
Also, thanks for the Twitter updates during the Celebrations in Netherlands. I'm glad our troops were appreciated so much!
I'm in for $50.00
Mr Chaney's "The other side of the story"
Have you found the Major? Not yet
I am currently in the UK and am not the unnamed Major Michael Yon refers to.
Kind regards
Major Paul Smyth
http://helmandblog.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/MediaOps
...
"You have presented one side of the story. Unfortunately the Brit officer won't get to tell his."
The irony is that Michael made this very point: "If a general does not want to tell his story, someone will tell it for him. "
The Major squandered the asset of a sympathetic correspondent, who graciously chose not to reveal his name. If he is, in fact, the person identified by a couple of the above comments, he will have no trouble getting his side of the story out, should he choose to do so.
Ease back chaps
I am a civilian - but I've followed Michael's work here for several years and I was one of the many who complained to the MoD when his embed was terminated.
We'd be better off campaigning to have him invited back (if he's willing) and explaining why we need his kind of reporting, while we have a voice and momentum - British Forces' friends and families have a powerful voice. Put simply, this would be a bigger win over the unnamed Major than any other outcome.
Michael, You...are...my...hero!
Reminds me somewhat of the armored HUMVEE issue in Iraq
The cry for more helicopters (et. all.) seems to be falling on deaf ears this time...
To Mr.....
Come off It
What an enormous overeaction Michael. About as silly as you being bizarrely miffed at Brit soldiers ripping the piss out of southern US accents the other week and suggesting they get the drawl wrong. You usually get these observations wrong. You are a journalist at the end of the day but you are starting to sound a little bit up your own backside whilst passing this off as a duty and a huge insult a massive issue to your being able to do YOUR job. We KNOW the troops are facing socialist style funding for their efforts..you seem to think the Brits are unaware of this??! it is reported in all the papers and on all the blogs (and rightfully so) day in day out - there is therefore nothing to suggest that your remark on this basis would cause them some sudden NEW issues to cancel your embed over. You thoroughly dislike the British and consistently patronise them. It always wreaks in your reports. Yes you like soldiers and respect them but that doesn't cancel out the underlying theme as far as I'm concerned. Right now you have posted a nice big fat piece of speculation which winds up in a bizarre witch hunt as you likely intended. Why not simply come out and name the witch. You may as well. It appears you are going to keep this one going for you and your journo mates for as long as possible. To hell with the war which hangs in the balance underprovided by most member nations and understrategised in Nato. What war? There is a big old spat with MediaOps and big league egos in journalism that need stroking apparently.
mr
Finally the Answer
Good work and be careful
Question
just my thoughts
to use. we don't need anymore. a right proper story for the folks back home. ya buddy.
Just Thanks
My son is US Army Infantry (Airborne), but he calls himself "just a grunt." Since June his platoon has manned a COP 3 clicks from the Pak border, catching the same shit from the Taliban as the Marines and the British. It seems that the US Army doesn't like to get you embedded with its units. More's the pity. But, by reading your dispatches about the British 2 Rifles and the USAF Pedros, I know more about what my son is enduring. Carry on, and stay healthy!
Maggie
Thanks for always telling it like it is and keeping us in the loop. You do a great job, and I always tell everyone I know about your dispatches. Amazing what goes on behind the scenes! It was good to read about James “Maggie” Megallas. I met him in the Dallas-Ft Worth airport a few years ago when he was signing his book at a bookstore. I was very impressed with him and thoroughly enjoyed talking with him. He listened very intently to my idea about creating a Non-Profit Horse Therapy/Scuba Therapy Ranch Retreat for combat wounded soldiers and their familes, and he told me a little about his own combat experiences that he wrote about in his book. I was very happy to add his book to my growing collection of military autobiographies. His autographed book sits on my bookshelf right next to your autographed book. Keep up the good work!
...
I was constantly called a REMF by my US Army friends (all in good fun), since I worked on a USAF flightline. I finally can now start calling someone else REMF.
I generally don't comment about UK politics however, I do find it odd that the "Director of Media and Communications MOD" has decided to look into it. (see comments above). After they stood by "ending his embed early".
I hope this dispatch goes viral in the UK.
Find the Major, not yet
Journalist Michael Yon posted a report this morning - http://www.michaelyon-online.com/bullshit-bob.htm - it makes for interesting reading - and I seem to have been confused as the unnamed major.
Since May last year I have been pretty busy working within Media Ops. I have served in Kosovo with 2 RIFLES and Iraq within MND(SE) and I am now a week away from a tour in Afghanistan, somewhere I have not been since 2006.
I am currently in the UK and am not the unnamed major Michael Yon refers to. With any luck I will have the chance to meet and work with Michael when he returns to Helmand.
Kind regards
Major Paul Smyth
BS Bob
SWIFT AND BOLD.
name & shame the major...
Ms
Kudos Michael
Staff officers who have no effing idea what is going on outside the wire.
I clearly remember an occassion on the street in Iraq 12 of us dealing with a local issue in a low risk area during a calm day.
Without clearing their arrival with our LNO a contingent of 100 brigade idiots came flying into town, sweeping their .50s across the locals and intent to arrive in grand style just as the school kids were leaving school. Absolutely no sensitivity to what was going on and scaring the crap out of every good Iraqi they passed.
I looked up at one of my team members and gave him the WTF look as the field grade "leader" of the circus pulled up and asked for directions.
Hunkered down in his HMMWV all ibassed and kevlared up he was quite the contrast to our ball caps and three trucks surrounded by locals.
I looked at him as he asked for directions and I pointed out that these were friendly Indians and didn't need to bring Fort Apache. His reply was that he didn't want to take any chances. I leaned down and suggested that his lack of recon had scared the sh/t out of the locals and probably set back our efforts by several months. He drove off to his inspection. We went back to the FOB.
I will never forget driving back and passing through a cordon of crew served weapons and thinking if we win this it will be in spite of ourselves.
Michael, keep up the good fight. Far too many people live all day in the a/c and have the bronze stars to prove it.
MF8. Out.
Love/Hate Relationship with British-Canadian military
No government that puts it's military in harms way without fully resourcing their efforts to win deserves to hold the reigns of power. That includes the U.S. government when it shamelessly does less than it could for our hero's in uniform.
Remember this during our next elections!
Bill Cattley
LTC, AV
The People's Champion
You wrote: "I work for the soldiers, for the readers, and for the people in general."
Don't get carried away please.
LIONS FOR LAMBS
Worthless Hinges
...
In short the media should report this war truthfully and fairly to the electorate, as I believe Mr Yon has done,(and so well over the years). After all the war is being fought in our name, so why is it that we can't find out what is going on?
"They" think that we are to likely to react badly, aka Vietnam, a word that seems to strike terror into the the political "They". The UK has seen so many wars over the centuries, and without the populous crying fowl or pulling up sticks, it is strange that "They" think this one should be different from all the rest. It reveals a massive amount of insecurity on the part of the Government of the UK, and why is that? We need to know why, I demand that they give us the facts and let us make our own minds up, as for all our faults, on the whole we are a resiliant nation and will not give up the fight if it is just. "They" should think again; Truth should not be the first casualty of war.
So if Media Ops were to be disbanded, then more money could be diverted to buy helicopters for the troops, it might be naieve but its just "economics". And thats the key for the current Government and I believe its the reason for all the spin and blocking tactics, the truth is that Gordon Brown has so mismanaged the finances in the recent economic crises, he is now looking to make cuts everywhere, and cant afford to buy anymore helicopters, and he dosnt care if people die because they dont have them. But he is worried about this getting out, so he has had to silence Mr Yon through the MOD and the Major at Media Ops.
G Brown thinks the public are to stupid to realise this, but as usual the political classes are the stupid ones. ( Buy the way, offering to scrap Trident so you can look good to the disarming community, thus helping to save the world, and hoping that no one notices that you are really just saving billions to divert back into the empty chest, hasnt worked.)
The bullshit always runs up hill in politics; from the Major in Media Ops, to the MOD, ( Dont act so suprised Nick Gurr, you knew what was going on, still trying to put the lid on the boiling pot are you? Its going to be bloody difficult now its overflowing and people have noticed, isnt it, no matter what you attempt with Mr Yon.) to Bullshit Bob Ainsworth and from him to our aptly named PM, Gordon Brown(Not elected PM and will never be).
To Michael I say thanks from one UK citizen for all you have done, and are doing and can I suggest that maybe after the next general election things will be a lot different. Then Gordon-"more spin than a wurlitzer"-Brown, Bullshit Bob and all the rest will join the dole queue which they created and also the Major will find himself promoted to chief potato peeler.
...
Now, with this post, you have become our Emile Zola.
J'accuse, Bob Ainsworth!
I have long read without contributing. That was wrong, and I have rectified the error. This work is too important to be left to the mercy of others.
...
I have always had respect for those that serve in uniform. After reading your pieces that respect has grown much greater. I try to acknowledge our service members when I see them, I try to send them things to them. I will try much harder in the future due to your writings. That is what Major Media-ops does not understand, the support you grow in all of us that read you postings. The support that grows in us for the ones who run with rucksacks in the heat of the day. God Bless them All!
...
I used to live in the State of Vermont, which is inhabited by Vermonters.
Once a flashy dude in a flashy convertible from downcountry screeched to a halt next to a Vermonter mowing hay by the road.
"Can you tell me the way to Burlington!"
"No."
"Can you tell me the way to Montpelier!"
"No."
"Well, can you tell me the way to Bellows Falls!"
"No."
"WELL! You don't know MUCH, do you!"
"No, but I ain't lost."
mr
Sean O'Brian.. don't get carried away
...
im going to get straight to the point...
--> WWS
great work
This is just part of it ...
My conclusion from observing this bias is that the British armed forces were sent to Iraq, and are being sent to Afghanistan, deliberately to be thrashed. Michael Yon wrote: "So who is Richardson lying to? Not the enemy…unless the enemy is the British public." I fear that Michael has got it in one. It is important to the current rulers in (formerly) Great Britain that they give away our currency and our sovereignty to the EU. They do not want the British forces to be able to resist; and they might for they are fiercely loyal to our Sovereign, not to the politicians. So the politicians sent the forces round to the other side of the world with deliberately inadequate kit to be at best distracted from what is happening at home, and at worst to be rendered incapable of doing anything about it. I fervently wish to be proven wrong, but let us see what develops.
Here in Brazil, your words echo and are heard. Thank you. MUITO OBRIGADO MESMO
Your words and photos have been as treasures.
Though I am an American, our son opted for the army he considered, though so badly resourced, was better trained. My son serves with the British 2 RIFLES in Helmand and so far away here in Brazil, all you have done in both pictures and words, has brought to us the reality that have been so powerful.
We were warned NOT to believe anything that was being put out via MOD, so it is not surprising what has happened in regards a man like Bob Ainsworth, so out of his depth, he has to regurgitate lies. The Major at Bastion is apparently being replaced. May your joys be refreshed with new blood.
...
Eh? Excuse me, but there are plenty of brave people in Britain (a Country that has lost good men fighting for liberty every year since WW2)
move on.
Not knowing much
This is about Yon so I won't go on but I would just say that all war is personal and in order to win you have to either utterly break and rebuild the enemy's will (WW2 Japan) or you have to learn the culture, the locals' prioritized needs and worries and how to leverage kinetic and non-kinetic assets to win over their confidence that you will not abandon them.
We do need COB logistics folks to resource us and the do a yeoman's job God love them
But we have wayyyyy to many folks who sit around in TOCs playing solitaire and earning their bronze star and far too few rucking up and going out to drink chai and eat flat bread with the folks.
Until we change that paradigm and build more leaders like GEN Petraeus who get it we will forever be on the tail end of the enemy's decision cycle. Not unlike visiting Bostonians in Cadillacs asking directions from "bumpkins" living in Jericho.
That's all I got to say about that.
MF8
MF8 How'd you know he was from Boston?
As I recall, that same fool asked another farmer up the road the same question.
The farmer replied -- (it being mud season): "Well......... if I were going to Burlington I SURE wouldn't start from HEAH!"
...
Doofus Major
That guy's a political animal, through and through and should NOT be in uniform.
Try to be a Patriot
Thank You!
Major Roach leg
Respect
Keep up the fine reporting Michael and stay safe out there.
ps. Thanks for having such a great respect for 'our boys'. Just imagine what they might achieve if they were properly resourced. It might, just might, turn the tide against the Taliban in Helmand province and cut down on our grievous casualty figures of recent months.
Respect!!
A shining example
I've been following your work since it started in Afghanistan, and I'm dissapointed I've never had the chance to shake your hand, which is funny, as I think you're only a few tents away with me in 2Rifles!
Good luck, god speed, and I hope we can have you back amongst us again.
Gen McChrystal's Afghan Assessment
http://media.washingtonpost.co...092003140
...
...
...
...
@ Career Officer & A Chosen Man
This Major sounds like a perfect example of that type of behaviour, the same behaviour led American troops to commit fratricide in other conflicts. It is probably a good thing this officer is not in combat.
and Dear Chosen Man if you don't donate kindly STFU plz. We trust Micheal with our funds. And you are obviously an anti-american shill.
...
Sarkozy new Embed partner?
...
Request for Objectivity
In this case I am so very disappointed to read a personal attack on an individual member of Media Ops. The detail you have provided is indeed enough to identify that individual to anyone who knows the setup at Camp Bastion. This also reflects erroneously onto the entire Media Ops team.
I will address the points you have made specifically:
You have strongly implied that the Major in question is some sort of cowardly desk wallah, not fit to touch the boots of a 'proper' soldier. In fact he is a well respected, experienced soldier who has seen plenty of active service. I may be speaking out of turn as I do not know him personally but I would imagine that he would have liked to get out of camp once in a while rather than staying in the dustbowl ferrying recalcitrant journalists back and forth. However that was the duty to which he had been assigned.
You boast about your usage of soldiers' parlance. You should understand, therefore that the majority of seasoned soldiers (please excuse my own use of a soldiers' favourite morpheme) take the 'piss' out of each other. Sometimes it is a way of defusing a situation, bonding with each other, coping with difficult situations, etc. It can also be a way of asking another person to question their own actions without actually taking them to task formally. A sense of humour is a soldier's best defence. You may feel that you witnessed an act of bullying. In fact the only sensibilities wounded by this exchange will have been your own.
It is every soldier's duty to stay fit and healthy for duty. If a soldier was indeed running in extreme heat, it was probably appropriate for him to question whether this exercise might be excessive or unnecessary.
Many personnel at Camp Bastion, particularly the Media Ops are on duty 24hrs and they need to grab every moment of sleep or rest/relaxation they can. Anyone who is too amenable will soon find themselves ill, sleep-deprived and burnt out. It is not your place to question exactly what an individual chooses to do with their limited 'downtime'. For someone thousands of miles from their loved ones, facebook is an ideal way to keep in touch with friends and family, sharing images, thoughts and messages.
The media escort role requires regular night duties, involving getting up and going out at stupid o'clock in the morning, then returning to glean a couple more hours sleep, then getting up again with everyone else and going about your daytime duties. Is it not understandable that the person in this role would guard every moment of precious sleep? Maybe the accommodation itself was inappropriate but soldiers make the best of the resources they have.
I cannot help thinking that you were unable to get your own way, for undoubtedly valid reasons and you have taken your angst out on this particular Major.
I agree that everyone has their faults - and those who are in a position of responsibility should be held to account, should those faults impact on others. In the spirit of this, perhaps you should examine your own actions and motives before making damaging, personal, biased remarks.
I hope that this alternative perspective is of use. Thank you for reading.
Mrs A. Soldier
...
I know the Type.
To Mrs A. Major Request for Objectivity
Calling people out on their crap; if anyone is getting in the way of the truth of this war getting to the people then they do need to be called out on it. The cream will come to the top and if the Major is wrong then he will wear the shoe. Sometime people in charge want to show you who is boss and they think there is nothing you can do to them, I think the Major, Col. and Bullshit Bob got a surprise.
I have read Mr. Yon’s work for a few years now, read both of his books and looked him up on Wikipedia this guy is the best we as readers could hope for when covering this war.
On Wiki: Served in the Special Forces early 1980s, one of the youngest soldiers to pass the Green Beret selection process. From reading and looking over articles from him all the way back in late 2005, he must have more combat time than most soldiers. Here is a guy who gets face time with General Petraeus, Defense Sectary of the United States Mr. Gates plus eats, sleeps, and goes into combat with our soldiers. No one covers such a wide range of war reporting, which makes his views of both of the wars special when also taken into account his own personal military training.
From reading this article it does not look like Mr. Yon can be man handled, or his stories guided into a positive light when that is not the truth. For the Major and the rest that get in the way of the truth don’t cry when you get called out for being part of the problem!
Great photos and stories of our guys doing HERO work everyday and night. Please help Mr. Yon do the most that he can to bring us the news.
I’ll hit the tip jar on my way out, Mr. Yon keep reporting please!!
Devil's Advocate
Although I do want the story of my guys to be told in full, at the same time I realize that when these doctored / dramatic photos get published (like those in Time Magazine's article concerning Kunar province) the great majority of Americans get an extremely negative view of what's going on here. Our projects are outnumbering the firefights...the ANA are getting stronger everyday (still long way to go)...we have more influence in the population centers than the Taliban...none of this is conveyed to the public. It isn't as sexy as the black and white photo's of a US soldier who got his leg blown off getting MEDEVAC'd. I do respect the photographers coming along with us on missions but I have always been suspect of accountability issues above their level.
That said, your work does do Soldiers good as it goes "behind the scenes". Always been a big fan.
Come to Kunar, we'd love to have you...the Marines and British aren't the only guys fighting in Afghanistan.
The Devil is in Afghanistan
Your quote:
“I have to say that our time here in Afhganistan to make a positive change is being decreased due to many media reports going back home.”
Your time there to make a change is being decreased by the media…….the media is not your problem. I guess the media has been carpet bombing you since 2001. I guess the media is doing ambushes against you guys. I guess the media has got you guys off of your game. I guess the media stop the funding for military equipment. Below is a little time line of just how long WE have been at this…..and there is VERY little to show for it considering the amount of TIME (2001-present). People don’t believe what the military media or the governments are saying because they had been saying the same thing for years.
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The War in Afghanistan, which began on October 7, 2001 as the U.S. military's Operation Enduring Freedom and the British military's Operation Herrick were launched in response to the September 11 attacks.
The stated aim of the invasion was to find Osama bin Laden and other high-ranking Al-Qaeda members and put them on trial, to destroy the whole organization of Al-Qaeda, and to remove the Taliban regime which supported and gave safe harbor to Al-Qaeda. The United States' Bush Doctrine stated that, as policy, it would not distinguish between terrorist organisations and nations or governments that harbor them.
Two military operations in Afghanistan are fighting for control over the country. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is a United States combat operation involving some coalition partners and currently operating primarily in the eastern and southern parts of the country along the Pakistan border. Approximately 28,300 U.S. troops are in OEF.[4][6][7]
The second operation is the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which was established by the UN Security Council at the end of December 2001 to secure Kabul and the surrounding areas. NATO assumed control of ISAF in 2003. By July 23, 2009, ISAF had around 64,500 troops from 42 countries, with NATO members providing the core of the force. The United States has approximately 29,950 troops in ISAF.[4]
The U.S. and the UK led the aerial bombing campaign, with ground forces supplied primarily by the Afghan Northern Alliance. In 2002, American, British and Canadian infantry were committed, along with special forces from several allied nations including Australia. Later, NATO troops were added.
The initial attack removed the Taliban from power, but Taliban forces have since regained some strength.[25] The war has been less successful in achieving the goal of restricting al-Qaeda's movement than anticipated.[26] Since 2006, Afghanistan has seen threats to its stability from increased Taliban-led insurgent activity, record-high levels of illegal drug production,[27][28] and a fragile government with limited control outside of Kabul.[29]
I guess you think the above is all the media's fault for reporting what they see!
Here are a few reports within this month from Kunar province (I Google them), I guess you should be suspect of these media reports hurting your progress. Blame the media for this too.
Sun 27th by the AP
On Sunday, Taliban militants ambushed a truck convoy in eastern Kunar province, killing six drivers and burning their vehicles, the Interior Ministry and provincial police said. A seventh truck driver was kidnapped in the attack near the Pakistani border.
The trucks were loaded with construction materials bound for a military base, said Gen. Khaliullah Zaiyi, Kunar's police chief.
Sept 10th
Tuesday's ambush in Gangigal in Kunar that killed four U.S. Marine military advisers, eight Afghan soldiers and policemen, and an Afghan interpreter will surely raise serious question about the current rules of engagement which U.S. forces operate under in Afghanistan. Jonathan S. Landay, a reporter for McClatchy Newspapers, witnessed the ambush and said the Marines and soldiers did not receive air and artillery support to suppress the Taliban firing from the mountains.
KABUL, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A rocket fired by Afghan security forces during clash with Taliban militants in the northern Baghlan province Saturday left one person dead and injured two others including a child, police said.
"Security forces came in contact with Taliban rebels in Shiringali village of Baghlan-e-Markazi district this morning during which a rocket fired by the troops hit a house killing one woman and wounding three others including one child," a police officer Gul Aqa told Xinhua.
He also added that the fighting is continuing between the two sides.
A similar incident in the eastern Kunar province Friday also left four civilians dead and injured three others.
Who will tells us the truth the Media Ops Major? Please!
Back @ Career Officer
Your poor taste and lack of honor speak for themselves. I need have no further discourse with you. Mr Yon may have deleted the posts because they were rude or obnoxious. Either way, he owns the blog and is free to edit as he sees fit. If you take a moment to remove your head from your posterior and READ what I wrote you would see that I was agreeing with you and complimenting you. However in light of your rather rancid posting I recant my testimony as to your worthiness. Your attitude clearly shows you are indeed a self important REMF.
Army SF Major's Theory of Tribal Engagement in ASTAN
Mrs. A Soldier
"You may feel that you witnessed an act of BULLYING. In fact the only sensibilities wounded by this exchange will have been your own."
Uhh, No, Ma'am. Bullying is a direct attack on a person. Mike described no such scene, or act of bullying. Here's what he did say with my emphasis added in hopes you will read it this time:
"A British soldier ran BY wearing a rucksack. He was drenched in sweat under the blazing, dusty desert. I smiled because it’s great to see so many soldiers who work and train hard. Yet the Major cut fun at the soldier, SAYING -- [not telling him] -- he was dumb to be running in that heat. I nearly growled at the Major, but instead asked if he ever goes into combat. The answer was no. And, in fact, the Major does not leave the safety of Camp Bastion.
"That a military officer would SHARE a foul word about a combat soldier who was prepping for battle was offensive. Especially an officer who lives in an air-conditioned tent...
"This very Major had earned a FOUL REPUTATION among his own kind for spending too much time on his FACEBOOK page. I PERSONALLY him being gratuitously RUDE to correspondents.
If the Maj. had spoken directly to the soldier I'm sure Mike would have said so. Instead all of his words are consistent with the Maj. having made these offensive remarks to Mike, not to the soldier.
As for your imaginings that this sterling officer would have been out on ops if only he could have, is that what he tells you?
Military PR/MR
...
helos?
...
Director of Media and Communication MOD
I know that some readers will not be sympathetic to the MOD's position on a matter such as this. But I would be grateful if you would hear me out. It is clear that there has been a (to quote Michael) "Texas-sized" misunderstanding here, made worse by various other factors, and I apologise for any part that MOD has played in that. But there are a few important points that I would like to make:
Michael's embed is the longest of any person this year by quite some way. Most embeds are for between one and two weeks. And demand for embeds with TFH always exceeds our capacity to supply. I wish that were not the case. But it is. Despite this, we have facilitated 136 media visits to TFH since January this year. On average there were about three people per visit, which means that some 400 media people have visited TFH over the first nine months of this year.
Michael's embed ended because the media ops team needed to assist a number of visits by other journalists, including a package from Northern Ireland regional newspapers (home ground for 19 Brigade), reporters from The Times and Independent, a BBC TV crew, a documentary team and a team from PA. Capacity is limited. I can understand that this may have looked different to Michael. But it was the reason that the embed ended when it did.
Hence the Defence Secretary's reply to Anne Winterton.
Last, and most importantly, while we take a number of factors into account in deciding who to embed and when (when an individual was last embedded, when his/her organisation was, readership), a demand for positive coverage is not among them. We believe that the efforts of our forces in theatre will speak for themselves. Of course we hope for balance - and by and large we get that. We have certainly never had an issue with Michael's reporting.
Clearly something appears to have gone seriously wrong in this case. But everyone in theatre is working under huge pressure which will sometimes generate friction and, as I said, I am sorry if Michael felt he was not being treated as he should be. I am assured that the media ops team in theatre worked hard to support him. It is a shame that the experience should have ended on a sour note.
I hope Michael will find the time to drop in for a chat about how we go forward from here when he is next in London.
One sided
Not one sided
It is certainly not a childish rant...frustrated, angry, but righteous.
The Troops and their families certainly appreciate the work he's doing, as do the rest of us here.
The Truth Hurts
Thank God for these lads, helping keep us safe & free enough to be able to even reply on here.
Move On
Seem To Have Found The Culprit....
Here's his blog:
http://helmandblog.blogspot.com/
I know that he's supposed to have rotated home, but maybe some pointed comments on the above blog are still warranted? ;)
Wrong Man Again
It doesn't seem right that you should have the last word, when it's the wrong one!
Maybe you haven't read all the posts in this string, but if you had you would have seen that Maj Paul Smyth is NOT the Major referred to by Michael. Paul Smyth was not in Afg when Michael was there.
If you want to know the name of the man in question, check out http://defenceoftherealm.blogs...names.html . Believe me, I know!
Keep your head ‘up’.