I first blogg'd about Michael Yon five years ago, and like many of you have been following his work for quite awhile.
Along with a few other things, this Facebook quote from him left my puzzl'r puzzl'n,
Life was good before I went to Iraq. But after three friends were killed during the GWOT, and my growing mistrust for the media and for the US
Government/Military, I quit traveling the world and went to war. The United States was in peril. I am American. Today, I do not trust McChrystal anymore than some people trust the New York Times, Obama or Bush. If McChrystal could be trusted, I would go back to my better life. McChrystal is a great killer but this war is above his head. He must be watched..The folks at BLACKFIVE, Chuck, Kanani, LaughingWolf, YouServed, Donovan, Greta, and others are voicing their concern - one that Greyhawk seemed to get a sniff of early last month.
Every man has to find his own way in life - but sometimes it is helpful to check around and grab hold of an external reference point. Anyone who has gone through the helo-dunker emergency egress training knows what I am talking about.
When everything and everyone around you all of a sudden seems out of kilter and swirling in chaos - it might be helpful to ponder if the problem isn't what is around you - but just you.
The war will go on - the story will continue to be told - but everyone needs some time away. 6-months, 12-months --- some time to clear the mind and reset perspective.
Just a thought.
UPDATE: Yon over at Facebook doubles down.
Bottom line questions: How many milbloggers who were not on active duty (hence sent to the war as a troop) have spent more than a year in the wars? I know of zero. Does one exist? The milblogging community is largely a hurricane of hot air. There are some ...good and responsible writers working milblogs but most of them are LESS ACCURATE than the MSM they oppose. Please name the top five milblogs -- and one person from each -- who has spent a year (less than 15% of the war) as a civilian journalist/writer in Iraq/Afghanistan. Start with http://www.longwarjournal.org/ and Blackfive. People who are seriously tracking the war seriously don't track these guysHe doesn't get it. Anyway, you can only help those who want to be helped. I guess Yon will have to figure this out by himself. I wish him luck.
Michael Yon
