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On Pharmacy Road
Yesterday I read Michael Yon’s latest update from Afghanistan entitled Bad Medicne and as usual it was a very good read with some stunning photos. Michael always seems to capture the mood and thoughts of the soldiers very well, probably because he was himself in the forces. This is a typical example:
The British and American soldiers often like the Afghans they work with; most of the Iraq veterans (British and American) did not make friends in Iraq, but most soldiers who work closely with Afghans seem to like them. The Afghans do some crazy, goofy things, but something about Afghans can be very likeable. Practically none of us want to be here, but nobody seems to have malice for Afghans. It’s difficult to explain.
He also tends to tell the story as he sees it rather than how he is supposed to see it from his minders viewpoint and this has led to his embed with the UK forces being cancelled. This seems rather strange as a summary of his latest update was also carried on the “Helmand Blog“. Perhaps some his more pithy comments such as this
The EOD soldiers said this dog missed a big pressure-activated bomb and led his handler right over it. Luckily the team didn’t step on the device. The dog is better at finding shade than bombs, apparently. Probably should be a drug dog. I’m no expert on search dogs, but it is true that glaring sun can bake away scent. I had the feeling that the soldier felt like he let people down, but nobody said any such thing. Everybody knows it’s tough out here and sometimes you simply miss the bomb.
didn’t go down to well. Though it may have been more to do with some of the details he reveals, none of which are exactly secret but unfortunately our MOD still has not worked out the bad boys can also read and write these days and at a push use Google. It may even have been his revelation that the French are not always desired
JTACs here say the least desirable aircraft of those fourteen are the French M2000D. A package of two jets carries no cannon, no downlink and a total of only 4 GBU 12s. The optics aboard the aircraft are not good, and the trail aircraft spots targets with binoculars like the Red Baron. Also, the French and British have problems understanding each other’s accents. The British who work with French forces refuse to say a bad word. They say the French are good and ready—which can be surprising because the Brits and the French like to slag each other—but the French aircraft simply are primitive in comparison to the American jets. An American unit in Zabul Province last year said that some French pilots probably saved them, or at least made a big difference, and so any words about primitive aircraft should be taken in light of respect for the pilots.
but even then he still sees their good points.
Perhaps it his frank way of writing that makes you understand that all is not well in Sangin despite the sacrifices our force have made. As he says
FOB Jackson is currently home to Battlegroup headquarters for 2 Rifles. The area around the river is called the “Green Zone,” but just as appropriately could be called the Opium Zone. During season, the area is covered with colorful poppies, whose 2009 products are probably showing up by now on the streets in Europe. European money flows back here and buys fertilizer in the Sangin Market, which can be used to make bombs, produce more opium, get more money and make more bombs and grow more opium and make more money and bombs and grow more opium. Sangin is at once an ATM and weapons bazaar for the enemy. Nearly all fatalities in this unit have been caused by fertilizer bombs. The decision to mostly ignore the drug dealers has been a strategic blunder.
All in all in seems strange that what is a really good piece and what appears to be good news item should lead to the cancellation of his embed. This is petty censorship, but just so atypical of how the MOD and this Government like to do business.
Keep on reading Michael Yon he is good value and a welcome relief to some of the stories that pass as journalism from Afghanistan.
Thanks for highlighting this. These lines in Yon’s dispatch suggest he knew his reporting might be a risk: ‘We set off down the market road. Some folks believe such reports are “security violations,” as if the thousands of people living here do not know exactly where the bases are, or do not know exactly where we came from and went to. Operations take place here every day. Civilians are everywhere.’
He’s an excellent reporter. Problem is FL, the media don’t like someone who is a loose canon, they want to feed us what they’re told to feed us. I read about Yon’s redundancy on EURef. Such a shame but what can we do about it?
Daniel, thanks for the comments, I note from your blog that the MOD has denied he canceled his embed but it was just it’s natural end, seems very strange he should say this without reason. Maybe Michael will have more to say later on.
@subrosa SR I suspect that we do is continue to highlight articles such as Michael’s and try and ask people to look for different avenues for their news and views apart from just the MSM, they might just learn something. I notice that regular read of yours ConHome has an article highlighting Michael’s story so he is getting a good press at least today.
Michael Yon emailed me earlier today. I’ve put another post up on the Frontline Club website if anybody’s interested. His line is that the MoD gave him “zero warning” that his embed was ending and was not happy about it. This afternoon @defencehq, the MoD’s Twitter feed retweeted his Bad Medicine article, so they can’t be worried about OPSEC. Strange.