Comments for The Road to Hell at http://www.michaelyon-online.com , comment 1 to 46 out of 20 comments http://www.michaelyon-online.com Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:40:18 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-21250 As a soldier, I find the display of the property of killed enemy gross. Particularly so when it is personal equipment that is covered on the Geneva Convention. Uniforms, boots and personal items of a non-combat purpose remain the property of an enemy solider even in death. Taliban wearing of French uniforms instills me with a "terrible resolve". Keep dispalying proproganga like that and NATO may just start nuking those hills you all hide in. Jumpign around like little monkeys in stolen uniforms - Dan Fraser Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:41:18 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-21227 A "relative handful of terrorists" should be beaten by brainpower on our terms and conditions, not theirs. We flush them out; we don't get sucked in. Iraq was strategic and necessary. We should've finished that one properly, not started this one. The Dems can't seem to get anything right but since they're the only ones who don't see that, they keep going for more of the same. The totalitarian impulse of the left. This is India's back yard. We leave; the problems aren't going away. We stay; same outcome. Some people have made it clear they are going to live out their lives in squalor and warfare. We decide now how they aren't gong to bring us down. The Indians should do the same. We would like things to be different. They will not be. Not there anyway. - LadyLiberty Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:30:19 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-20398 U is taliban ??? - Thomas Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:40:38 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-19495 " if they surrender, will the alliance hold?" OK, that word, you couldn't help it, it's carved in your brain and tied to the French, yeah, some machiavellian perverts did a good job in Bush administration (ie Paul Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld Powell, Rove...) now historical reality is a bit different, just read the right archives - the frog patriot Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:01:20 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16405 Dear Michael, Thanks for a totally absorbing article. I am dissapointed by the petty criticism from your French readers. The death of those brave soldiers is painful to us all but we must learn what happend and come up wiser against a clever enemy. I would like to see a bigger commitment by the French in this war. Given public opinion in France this will be difficult. I would like the Germans to get involved rather than just escort NGO's in areas made safer by the Americans and British. Again, public opinion I suppose. Take care, Michael. You are very special to a great lot of people. Regards. - Gismo Fly Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:57:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16403 http://blog.freerangeinternational.com/?p=119 Check out the photo of the backside of journalist :>) For more from Tim, please read "Shakedown" Then go check out their blog. They are doing some incredible work in AFG. - Huntress Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:00:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-14456 Its a famous maxim "Only Dog and Englishmen go out in the sun", although I appreciate your work, its painstaking but who would be fool enough to go to a war-tron country like Afghanistan. So I guess only CIA, MOSSAD & MI5 could go to Afghanistan in the sun. This "analysis" comes from the "words" you used. Be careful buddy, jmZK - Asif A Tue, 28 Oct 2008 17:01:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16262 WTF what are you talking about ? your deep thoughts, I suppose all shaped through MSM clich??s The french soldiers are supported by their population, not by the lefties medias, but it's the same in the US for the american soldiers, so get a clue, and don't come over unless you have FACTS So far the french soldiers have pointed quite clearly when the american headquaters let them do http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6inbf_afghanistan-quand-les-francais-film_newsir - from the attic Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:39:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16237 Very good article and truly interesting trip you took there ... Just to bring some precisons, we have among the most restrictive ROE in Afghanistan, therefore you were not in danger of being shot by a French airplane or Milan missile while having your talk on the hill. Many in the army are begging to have these rules changed as we are often restricted to engage insurgents if they hide inside civilian buildings or in mosqs. It is a truly difficult war to win, especially if you want at the same time putting down the insurgency and winning the hearts and minds ... I can tell you this is not an easy war for the French troops that receive very little support at home as memories from the Algerian war are still very strong. - Alex Wed, 22 Oct 2008 04:20:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16235 The date/time on the camera isn't sure proof of its origin, of course, BUT.... with the internet, gear can be ordered worldwide. Because of the U.S. Army/Navy postal system, it's easy for our troops to order stuff into country. The foreign troops that I served with (mostly Eastern European) preferred to order their electronics through us because it was cheaper and quicker. Using their own resources, the shipping became prohibitive. If these soldiers were around U.S. troops very much, the camera may have been ordered through a U.S. company. - Dennis M Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:06:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16218 where did you see in the polls that the Frenchs are to get the hell out of afghanistan ? the national assembly voted 343 vs 210 for staying in Afghanistan - Marie Claude (franchie) Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:28:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16216 iran, afghanistan: ƒ??Afghan insurgent leader protected by Teheranƒ?? A confidential military report made public last Monday charges Iran offered protection to an Afghan insurgent leader who claimed responsibility for an August ambush that killed 10 French soldiers. The report by Spainƒ??s CIFAS military intelligence agency, which was obtained by Cadena Ser radio and posted on the stationƒ??s website, said Gulbuddin Hekmatyar enjoyed ƒ??total freedomƒ? when he lived at a Teheran hotel in 2005 -- with his security provided by the Iranian government. He met daily with many unidentified individuals while in Teheran, added the report, which was dated August 9, 2005, according to Cadena Ser. Hekmatyar, who briefly served as prime minister during Afghanistanƒ??s civil war in the 1990s, is considered one of the countryƒ??s most radical warlords who is already known to have sought refuge in Iran between 1996 and 2002. The United States has offered a multi-million-dollar reward for his capture. He recently said in a video message that his faction had carried out an ambush on August 18 that killed 10 French soldiers in Sarabi, to the east of the Afghan capital Kabul. The incident, in which 21 troops were also wounded, was the deadliest ground attack on international troops since their 2001 dispatch to Afghanistan to oust the hardline Taliban regime. Cadena Ser did not say how it obtained the report, which apparently was marked confidential and bore the seal of Spainƒ??s Defense Ministry. The radio station also said the intelligence agency suspects that Teheran supplied an allied terrorist group with US-made Stinger missile launchers. Another report claims Iranian agents in April 2005 bought ƒ??several Stinger missile systemsƒ? from an Afghan arms dealer, Cadena Ser said. ƒ??Iran buys weapons to then transfer them to a third party, probably Iranian terrorist groupsƒ?, it alleged. The station recently published yet another confidential defense report dated the same year claiming Pakistanƒ??s spy service helped arm Taliban insurgents in 2005 to carry out assassination attempts against the Afghan government. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k4LDJ3iEFJYXxnMSKh - Marie Claude (franchie) Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:04:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16209 Afghanistan : op??ration conjointe en vall??e dƒ??Uzbin Le 18 octobre 2008, des unit??s des forces nationales de s??curit?? afghanes et du RC-C (Regional Command-Capital) de la FIAS, sous les ordres du g??n??ral Stollsteiner, ont conduit une op??ration conjointe dans le sud de la vall??e dƒ??Uzbin, en coordination ??troite avec les autorit??s afghanes, le commandement r??gional Est et le quartier g??n??ral de la FIAS. Lƒ??op??ration avait pour but premier de priver les insurg??s de leur libert?? dƒ??action et de les emp?¦cher de sƒ????tablir durablement dans la zone. Une unit?? de lƒ??arm??e nationale afghane issue du 203e corps, soutenue par ses mentors am??ricains, a s??curis?? lƒ??unique route de la vall??e, tandis que les appuis a??riens de la FIAS, dont une Gazelle Viviane, assuraient la couverture de lƒ??ensemble du d??ploiement. Situ?? au pied du col permettant lƒ??acc??s du sud de lƒ??Uzbin ?ÿ la province voisine de Laghman, le village de Sper Kunday constituait lƒ??objectif principal. A partir du milieu de la matin??e et jusque dans la soir??e, les insurg??s ont effectu?? diff??rentes man?uvres en vue de mener des attaques sur le dispositif, toutes d??jou??es au prix de pertes s??rieuses pour lƒ??adversaire. Les observations initiales font ??tat de 7 tu??s ou bless??s. Le nombre des assaillants touch??s par les tirs dƒ??appui reste ?ÿ d??terminer avec pr??cision. Outre lƒ??int??r?¦t tactique de Sper Kunday, il ??tait ??galement n??cessaire de reprendre contact avec la population et ses dirigeants locaux, deux mois apr??s lƒ??embuscade qui a co?¯t?? la vie ?ÿ dix soldats fran??ais. Lƒ??arm??e nationale et la police afghanes, imm??diatement suivies de troupes fran??aises, se sont donc d??ploy??es dans le village en tout d??but de matin??e. Le contact ??tabli a tout dƒ??abord permis aux forces de la coalition dƒ??expliquer leur mission et les raisons de leur pr??sence, puis de confirmer que les villageois font lƒ??objet de fortes pressions de la part des insurg??s. Trois maisons ont ainsi ??t?? fouill??es et un suspect interrog??. Enfin, les ??changes ont ??galement port?? sur les besoins des habitants, en vue de mener des actions de coop??ration civilo ƒ?? militaire. Cette op??ration sƒ??inscrit dans le cadre des missions de contr??le de zone d??volues ?ÿ chacun des 5 commandements r??gionaux de la FIAS. Elle pr??pare le processus de transfert de responsabilit?? aux forces de s??curit?? afghanes et les conditions n??cessaires ?ÿ lƒ??enregistrement des ??lecteurs, qui d??bute le 5 novembre 2008 dans le district de Surobi. Sources : EMA Droits : Minist??re de la d??fense/ECPAD http://www.defense.gouv.fr/ema/enjeux_defense/operations_exterieures/afghanistan/breves/afghanistan_operation_conjointe_en_vallee_d_uzbin - P4 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:52:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16197 Mr Yon, you had a secret report of the battle, why didn't you publish it on your blog? Oups, did it really exist? Did you read the interview of the french soldiers engaged and wounded in the french papers? no then learn french and read this : http://www.valeursactuelles.com/public/valeurs-actuelles/html/fr/articles.php?article_id=3321 The photo with the insurgent posing with the FAMAS, Mr Yon you didn't know the difference between a Woodland Camo and a french CE unifrorm? - Frenchy Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:47:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16195 These are not jihadi fanatics. They are not Afghan patriots. They are seeking justice for themselves and their families and village. That is a great reason for hope - if they are representative of others who have taken up arms against the Afghan gov't and NATO, then everything needed to defeat the Taliban and Al Qaeda is contained in this interview. - Solomon2 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:03:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16194 Super interesting article. I flew over the area of where the French were ambushed with an American General. I won't tell you his comments but clearly the insurgents are learning new tactics. Radio silence. Army unit manouvering. They have some new mentors and a new and dangerous edge. Best. - Dana Lewis - Fox News Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:30:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16191 "Mr. Yon- At last I thought I would put something together for you and youƒ??re people to read." Jamie, Mike's people are smart enough to smell a liar, a fool, and idiot when he makes his presence known through arrogant inane comments that serve only to prove how incapable you are of understanding what Michael wrote. This reader thinks you might want to take the time to educate yourself on the difference between "your" and "you're". "I will presume that most of youƒ??re readers are those that go WOW! And have never completed extensive Opƒ??s whether in Afgha, Iraq, Pakistan or for that matter some of the more colourful countries. You enjoy spattering your audience with military lingo." YOUR ( not you're) presumptions are wrong. Perhaps you'd be best served not making them--you prove yourself a fool when you do -- more so since you can't seem to grasp the difference between "your" & "you're". "You mention in youƒ??re article here that you were concerned with the afghans getting their money due to the damage, you have taken someone elseƒ??s pictures no matter who they were taken from and splashed your name all over them, how contrite" This by far is the most inane, ludicrous and nonsensical remark you have made, completely without basis, and solidifying beyond a doubt that you, Jamie, are an unmitigated fool and rather large asshat --- not surprising since you don''t know the difference between "your" & 'you're". This "reader" isn't the least bit interested in your ( NOT you're) opinion. - Huntress Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:00:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16190 I see you've set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public. "Mr. Yon- At last I thought I would put something together for you and youƒ??re people to read." Jamie, Mike's people are smart enough to smell a liar, a fool, and idiot when he makes his presence known through arrogant inane comments that serve only to prove how incapable you are of understanding what Michael wrote. This reader thinks you might want to take the time to educate yourself on the difference between "your" and "you're". "I will presume that most of youƒ??re readers are those that go WOW! And have never completed extensive Opƒ??s whether in Afgha, Iraq, Pakistan or for that matter some of the more colourful countries. You enjoy spattering your audience with military lingo." YOUR ( not you're) presumptions are wrong. Perhaps you'd be best served not making them--you prove yourself a fool when you do -- more so since you can't seem to grasp the difference between "your" & "you're". "You mention in youƒ??re article here that you were concerned with the afghans getting their money due to the damage, you have taken someone elseƒ??s pictures no matter who they were taken from and splashed your name all over them, how contrite" This by far is the most inane, ludicrous and nonsensical remark you have made, completely without basis, and solidifying beyond a doubt that you, Jamie, are an unmitigated fool and rather large asshat --- not surprising since you don''t know the difference between "your" & 'you're". This "reader" isn't the least bit interested in your ( NOT you're) opinion. - Huntress Wed, 15 Oct 2008 17:58:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16189 I have been following Michael's articles and postings for two years now. I agree with the comments made here about the nature of modern journalism. Michael's work represents real journalism. Most of what passes for journalism today is either quasi-entertainment or political commentary. I searched high and low on the internet for the past few years to find the REAL stories about our engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan- to find out how the war is really going there, on the ground. I am a history buff, and I knew that the war stories would come out eventually. I figured that with the internet, wouldn't there be something coming out in the 3rd or 4th year of the war? Well, I found it in Michael's work. Great job, keep it up. PS. I've spent a lot of time in France. They aren't so bad. Very proud of their country, not unlike Americans. But they have developed a built-in reluctance towards foreign military intervention as a result of heavy losses incurred defending their former colonies in Algeria and Vietnam. I hope their public will stay behind this mission despite these losses. Regards, David Neal Portland, Oregon - David Neal Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:14:00 +0100 http://www.michaelyon-online.com/the-road-to-hell.htm#comment-16188 Once again Michael puts himself in danger so that the rest of the world, those that care to look for the truth, can sit in the comfort of their homes to read it. Thank you Michael. As a long time reader, I look forward to every report, for the enlightenment it brings. I long ago gave up reading press and tv reports. They are all spin, to create sensationalism. You bring us sensational reports. God bless those who have died to bring peace. God bless those that do not see how to bring peace. God bless those that do not want peace, but grant them their peace. God bless you Michael. stay safe. Trust your instincts. - Tony H Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:56:00 +0100