Bob Kerr: The picture that we seldom get to see (mayhem in Mosul)

[Barrett808]

I talked to Mike Yon by satellite phone. It was a little scratchy at times and helicopters intruded occasionally. But it was worth it.

He describes himself as an author, explorer and photographer. He uses his camera as a notepad, he says.

And earlier this month, he took notes that were seen around the world.

He is in Iraq, he says, because he didn't quite believe what he was seeing in the news. He is a former Green Beret, and he wanted to see for himself.

He and I share the belief that we just aren't getting a full and honest look at this war -- or even a steady helping of small, telling snapshots. It is part of the reason why I appreciate Joel Rawson, the Journal's executive editor, going to Iraq with photographer John Freidah to give us an idea of what the day-to-day life of some Rhode Island National Guard members is like.

(more)

http://www.projo.com/news/bobkerr/projo_20050522_sunco22.238b3e1.html

[Viva_La_Revolution]

1. subscription site... bugmenot 5 tries... nada....

found his blog tho...

http://michaelyon.blogspot.com/

Saturday, May 21, 2005
The Battle for Mosul: Dispatch II


The Players

There is the perception that fanatical insurgents bubble like oil from the Iraqi sands. Yet, having traveled in Iraq for nearly half a year, I have seen little real desert, and true fanatics are rare.

In an effort to be culturally sensitive and almost compulsively polite, we've mangled the meanings of words like: "martyr," and "suicide" to such a degree that we're using them to label mass murderers. While American and foreign media collectively increase the suffering of babes through their current fashion of cynicism, others seem to have a case of parents' guilt--unable to give the Iraqi suffering the undivided and ameliorative attention it requires. Instead, reporters rush at any sign of distress to hyper-focus on the negative, and thereby create yet more problems than originally existed. They shovel out body counts masquerading them as reports. A major US magazine recently published an unsubstantiated piece about the desecration of the Islamic Holy Book by US Forces. This story led to riots and many deaths. The magazine has apologized, but it’s too late. The people are dead.

I have participated in, perhaps, one hundred raids. I lost count long ago. In practically every Iraqi home, I have seen the Quran. Soldiers have been trained to leave the Quran alone. American soldiers rarely will even touch the green tome, they leave it where it sits, in special places in many homes. Nevertheless, one story—for which the magazine quickly apologized—spelled death.

Yet, against the wishes of the enemy, and even much of the media, somehow the Iraqis continue to progress. I am amazed at the strength of the Iraqi spirit. These people keep trying, and they love their children.

more at link..



Knowledge is Power – Keep these threads kicked…….

Book TV Schedule May 21-23
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3699935

CSPAN Schedule Sunday, May 22
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3703368

[Barrett808]

2. Weird, the RSS Bandit browser lets me in with no registration

Here's another excerpt:

"We were in a neighborhood, and the kids came out," said Yon. "The Iraqi kids are really well-mannered, and they came out to see the soldiers.

"The car bomber went straight through them and hit the Stryker vehicle."

It was screaming, fiery, deadly proof -- if any further proof were needed -- that this war in Iraq has no safe places. Nothing and no one are out of bounds from the vicious, sneaky, suicidal enemy.

"One little boy was sitting there waiting," said Yon. "Then there was a fireball and the little boy just disappeared."

Two children were killed. Soldiers were wounded. Yon said the people there couldn't believe that more children didn't die.

He took pictures. He was taking his notes.

"When I start getting nervous, I start shooting pictures."

One of his pictures showed an American officer carrying the lifeless body of a little girl. Another showed a soldier helping a blood-spattered boy from the scene.

[struggle4progress]

3. I had no trouble with the site. eom

[thebigidea]

4. fuck him and his "progress"

I can't believe we're still hearing this tired whine about only hearing "negative" things coming out of Iraq. Well, you're the freakin' media - report the positive stuff. Oh yeah, you can't because you're confined to hotels, military bases, or military escorted jaunts in the back seat of SUVs, crouched behind the seat due to all the death and destruction we brought there.

I mean, freedom and stuff. Liberty.

Damn that "sneaky" enemy! How dare they use any form of cunning plan - only Americans and Baldrick can do that.

I can't believe that he's using the experience of raiding 100 houses along with military as an indicator of how things REALLY are - of course they are going not going to act brutal in front of cameras... he's along to give them PR! I can't stand these wanna-be reporter GIs running around playing soldier, acting like they're on a fucking football team instead of being JOURNALISTS.

"Although the press routinely lumps all of these similar groups under the banner "Al-Queda""

No, the press tends to know how to spell it correctly.

"The only martyrs I know about in Iraq are the fathers and brothers who see a better future coming, and so they act on their beliefs and assemble outside police stations whenever recruitment notices are posted. They line up in ever increasing numbers."

They are obliterated in ever increasing numbers. They are deserting in ever increasing numbers. They are double agents in ever increasing numbers. They are failing in ever increasing numbers.

That happy horseshit passed its expiration date 2 years ago. He's living in some mirage - a dreamworld cooked up by the Pentagon and fueled by his wish to be young again... to play dressup and run around with weapons one more time before they send him out to pasture shooting waterfall photos for auto parts calendars.

May he enjoy the ride while it lasts.
Gawd, i'm gagging on propaganda.

[thebigidea]

5. he just sent me a reply to this within minutes

I guess there's not much to do in the green zone but sit on a computer and click check mail every 3 minutes while ducking every loud booming sound...

unfortunately, he didn't fire off more than:

> dear swine,
>

my response:

You might want to try actually writing the email before you send it - that tends to make your vicious replies more effective. Then again, I suppose being unable to operate email software is somehow related to being unable to be anything more than a Pentagon lapdog. Sit! Roll Over! Tell us about the good progress, boy! Good boy, good boy! Rummy is gonna give you a biscuit!

[thebigidea]

6. the next round from Mr. Minimal

Pentagon Stooge wrote:

> dear swine,
>

dear errand boy,

Love and kisses from all of us here in Freedomtown, USA. We are eagerly anticipating further tales of "good progress." Surely Laura Bush's charm offensive will reap a great harvest of good progress in the region, and will make Richard Perle's dream of naming a square in Baghdad after her husband come true.

Perhaps you could recycle some story from a few months ago. We here in Freedomtown don't pay too much attention to the lib'rul media, so its not like anybody would notice.

[FlemingsGhost]

7. You are my hero, today.

Thank you.

[thebigidea]

8. Pentagonboy gets mean!

> Dear Swine,
>
> see how i won? you wasted twenty minutes, i spent
> 20 seconds to piss you
> off. I love it! now go back to your trough fat
> boy.

And you've wasted years of your life doing PR work for a gang of ghouls straight out of a Dick Tracy comic.

Besides, having quality time with a brave stooge like yourself is never wasted... Keep up the good work, I'm sure you'll get a medal along with Wolfowitz and Feith next year.

Is Mista bwave journawist trapped in a wittle hotel room? A safe green zone with biiiig guuuuuns to protect you from all those nasssssty brown people?

Get off your ass and start reporting, because surfing porn sites and sending barely illiterate emails to anonymous weirdos is hardly good journalism.