I'm reading Bing West's "The Village." Too many damn similarities. At least General Petraeus is onboard this time; our warriors need a winnable plan and our support.

Been there done that. In 1974, I hitch hiked through Europe, Turkey and Iran to Afghanistan. I remember getting on a bus at the afghan border post with Iran, and within an hour, the bus stopped for tea. You could buy hash cakes the sizes of dinner plates for 5 dollars American at the tea stop. Many hours later, the final stop was Herat. Thanks to to the indiscretion of youth, I thought it was lit up like Las Vegas. In the morning, Herat became a ubiquitous terra cotta landscape, everything was mud with light earth tones. Dry and hard. 35 years later, the underlying economy of hash and opium seems to be still firing and financing the ambitions of those who want power for the sake of power. I would eat raw brown opium balls daily to off set the gastrointestina l malaise so common to the region. Everything a youth could desire was available in open markets. Once I left the middle east, it was 10 years before i would allow myself one aspirin to offset a fever. I didn't drink a cup of coffee for five years so much was my aversion to hash, opium and other stimulants. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose (The more things change, the more they stay the same).

Godspeed Michael Yon. Stay well, stay alive, and congratulations on your award.

Michael, thanks for the photos. That part of Afghanistan looks desolate, maybe all of it looks like that, even the mountainous regions. We hate that our military has to be there and endure terrain, the mud, the hash, the heroin and the Taliban.

Even if the allied forces wipe out the Taliban, there will be other factions that move in to deal in the illicit drug trade. Is there no way to introduce other crops and produce that the Afghans can grow to stop them from growing drug crops? Furnish them with the farming implements, fuel and education to farm and support their families. We can only hope, I guess.

So many good lives lost for such a foul cause that the Taliban espouses and the remains of our valiant warriors are scattered across such a desolate, unforgiving terrain. And they do it for their country and for us! How can we ever thank them enough? That's just it, we can't.

The Arizona Cardinals won the NFC Championship Sunday and they are going to the Super Bowl. They have dedicated the game to Pat Tillman, their player that left their team at the height of his career and became a Ranger in Afghanistan, only to be killed there. He is no more, or less important than those who have given their lives before, or after him, but he embodies the strength and values of our great country! May they all rest in Peace!

Michael, Please keep us posted about books written etc by yourself and the other winners of
the weblog awards. I finally got a paperback of Ernie Pyle's writings and cannot wait to read
it. Wishing we could cease using ALL drugs here in USA then the demand would be way lower
and it could go by tunnels to other countries. We'd have lot less crime and home break ins if
people could get along without their daily buzz. Love this story and pix. Soldiers totally tell
it exactly like it is.......Bless them all and you too. Stay safe and come home soon.

Mr.Yon, Keep up the good work. You give a non biased view we need to hear. My son returned from Iraq Sept 08. You wrote an article about one of his missions in the northern sector. I would like to read it again and try to save it this time. He was with 4/6 armored cal dark horse. He flew the blackhawk on a mission where several soldiers were killed and several hurt, but all got out and to the hospital. His name is WO3 Thomas Alan Moore.
If you could, direct me to the area in your archives to find the story. Thanks Roger Moore

Mike,
Thank you for your straight up honest and truthful reporting on Iran and Afghanistan. I enjoy your reports, pictures and was blown away by your book.
I was watching Fox and Friends last week and they ran a story about your law suit agianst Mike Moore. Fox and Friends had many kind words about you. Righfully so!!!
God Bless you MIke. Perhaps we can meet one day.