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Some updates:
I have left the United States and am heading back to the war.
Heavy promotion of Moment of Truth in Iraq is over. I conducted approximately 100 radio, television, magazine and newspaper interviews, therefore was unable to do much more than track the war from afar. There are more radio interviews scheduled, but I’ll be talking from downrange. Moment of Truth in Iraq hit #6 on the Amazon bestseller list, and #2 on Barnes and Noble, which greatly surprised me.
Michael Moore has stopped the copyright infringement on my work, but his attorney has not responded to my attorney’s requests to negotiate a settlement. Out of courtesy, we’ll give Mr. Moore a little more time. But if he refuses to afford us the professional consideration of returning communications, we’ll have to file a lawsuit and meet them in court.
An email came this morning from 1st Lieutenant Brad Krauss. Brad and his platoon fought hard in many different places in Iraq, and I got to know these veterans during Operation Arrowhead Ripper. They named their Stryker “The General Lee,” after it had saved their lives so many times and kept on rolling. The thing was like Robocop. It would get blasted hard, tires blown off, slat armor dragging the ground, but the mechanics kept fixing the General Lee and it would return to combat usually within 24-48 hours. Finally, it was practically blown to smithereens when a giant bomb detonated directly beneath it. Brad said the General Lee is now returning to a line unit, and he sent this link: "One year later, General Lee rides again" . I’ve seen Strykers take terrific abuse and return to combat within a day or two, but I just couldn’t believe how much beating the General Lee took. If I had a magic wand, I’d send the Army another thousand of those things. And a thousand to the Brits, too.
You’ve got to see the footage inside my Superman dispatch when the General Lee got blasted into the air and crashed onto its side. Please click the Superman link to see the enemy video. Surely you would think the entire crew of American soldiers had been killed, but they all returned to combat nearly immediately. If you look very closely at the video, you can see Brad flying out of the front left hatch like Superman. He didn’t fly far and the General Lee nearly crushed him, but Brad soon returned to combat. Brad said the dispatch I wrote gained major points with his girlfriend, and I was happy to have assisted him on that important front. Now that his tour has ended, he has decided to stay in the Army.
I’m getting back into action myself. Moment of Truth in Iraq hardly made me a rich man, so reader support remains critical to continuing the mission. My next reports from the war will be unembedded; in other words, I will not be with U.S. or Coalition forces, but I will be in some very dangerous places. Therefore, I cannot disclose my locations until after I have departed.
Final update: no Senators have taken me up on the offer to act as a tour guide in Iraq, but the offer stands.
Reader support is crucial to this mission. Weekly or monthly recurring ‘subscription’ based support is the best, though all are greatly appreciated. Recurring and one-time donations are available through PayPal or Authorize.net.
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To send a check or money order:
Michael Yon
P O Box 5553
Winter Haven, FL 33880-5553
I will continue to do my part in telling the stories that are not being told. Readers must also do their part by keeping the cash flowing. Cash is essential .
Thank you!
Michael
Comments
The Brits right now are in a hole. The brilliant men on the ground are being burned by Politicians not fit to lick their boots. A lack of funding is bad, poor procurement worse, and lastly, a dire lack of political courage and direction.
British troops fight in two theatre's of open warfare and across the board are still doing so on 'peace' time budgets. No matter how badly you treat the 'Tommies' you can trust them to dig in and fight. If only the same could be said for those who cast them into fire and death.
These men and women at the absolute least deserve complete support, equipment and funding. And they do not get that. If you ever get the chance to speak and cover this subject, I hope you take it, because here in the UK, they are not getting the help and support they richly deserve.
Sadly the price we will pay in future will be severe. The lack of funding bites hard now, and many of our best are leaving or will leave after this continual mal-treatment. Its a disgrace.
Were it not for people like you ... if the American public had to rely solely on the stilted reports from the "reporters" who are, in reality, anti-war activists that populate the Associated Press and NY Times and who file their "reports" that have been phoned into them by Iraqi stringers from the safety of the Green Zone ... I truly believe that American public opinion would have become SO overwhelmingly negative that we would have lost this war. In the darkest of hours, yours was one of the few voices offering a ray of hope. Your country owes you a tremendous debt of gratitude.
Ha! The woosies. How about readers? I'll go!
I have purchased seven copies of your book and kept one for myself - autographed of course. Anyway, I gave away six copies, all of which have restored the resolve of their readers. Furthermore, many that I gave away have been read by multiple people. as they were loaned out. It is great and you should be immensely proud knowing you are making such a difference in the media campaign.
Sincerely,
Nathan Parrott
Just finished your book. And...wow...it left me speechless. Thank you for this. I wish I had some more eloquent way to express myself, but at the moment, I cannot.
Safe travels -
MezzoSF
Have another prayer card for your pocket: "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12).
When snidely asked, I answer "Yes,of course I want them home--but they chose to serve and to win and most of all I want that for them and for US."
I bought your book and haven't the heart to read all of it, my faith wanes and have a hard time sleeping.
Advise.....You absolutely must date ALL of your blogs and material, or human nature leads people to think the lesser or worse......the book, the funding, the recognition over the mission. I, sir, do not feel that way, but do Not give the idiotcrats an opening.
God bless you
Stay safe downrange.
Thank you for the book and all you do Michael! You be safe, and as soon as I get my stimulus I'll send a little stimulus your way!
Trying to get in contact with you and lost your email address in switching email servors. Know your busy, but have a couple questions for you if you dont mind. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.
Bryan
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-lisold0706,0,814136,print.story
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