Afghan Lunacy

[This dispatch was written by me in December 2008 in southern Afghanistan. It was never published though I recently found it in the unpublished archives. The photos came from the same period.]

Published: from Nepal on 14 October 2009

On May 25, 1961, the President of the United States of America said:

“Finally, if we are to win the battle that is now going on around the world between freedom and tyranny, the dramatic achievements in space which occurred in recent weeks should have made clear to us all, as did the Sputnik in 1957, the impact of this adventure on the minds of men everywhere, who are attempting to make a determination of which road they should take. Since early in my term, our efforts in space have been under review. With the advice of the Vice President, who is Chairman of the National Space Council, we have examined where we are strong and where we are not, where we may succeed and where we may not. Now it is time to take longer strides—time for a great new American enterprise—time for this nation to take a clearly leading role in space achievement, which in many ways may hold the key to our future on earth.”

(more…)

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Tags: Af-Pak war, Afgh, Afghanistan, Afghanistan war, bush
Posted Oct 14th 2009 at 6:13 pm in Michael Yon Dispatches, Military | 24651812 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/myon/2009/10/14/afghan-lunacy/Afghan+Lunacy+2009-10-15+01%3A13%3A40Michael+Yon

One Giant Leap

Yesterday, a helicopter crashed on base at Kandahar Airfield, killing sixteen.  Later that night we had a minor rocket attack which caused me to roll out of bed onto the floor, while this morning, I got up to the great pleasure of watching Neil Armstrong on the BBC, talking about this historic anniversary, when man first stepped on the moon.  I remember that launch as it roared so brightly into space.  It remains perhaps the most spectacular day in the history of man.   Every worthy endeavor comes with a cost.

Around the same time Mr. Armstrong was speaking this morning, roars from war jets rumbled through base as they rushed down the nearby runway.  A British Tornado lifted off but did not get far before it crashed and burned. The two crew members successfully escaped and are recovering from ejection trauma.  The cause of the Mi-26 crash last Tuesday that killed five is unclear, but a military source mentioned that the helicopter was shot down by an RPG.  At least six aircraft—two jets and four helicopters—have gone down this month.  Two Americans were lost in a jet crash. (more…)

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Tags: Battle Group, British Army, Kandahar Airfield, Neil Armstrong, NPR
Posted Jul 20th 2009 at 2:36 pm in Michael Yon Dispatches, Military | 18800224 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/myon/2009/07/20/one-giant-leap/One+Giant+Leap+2009-07-20+21%3A36%3A54Michael+Yon

Moonwalker: The Difference Between Achievement and Artifice

This month marks the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 and Neil Armstrong’s giant leap for mankind.

Mr. Armstrong is still alive, and, as far as I know, in good health.  But alas, one day, like all of us, Armstrong will shuffle off this mortal coil.  When he does, his passing will no doubt be news – it will lead on all of the broadcast and cable news programs, and decorate the front pages of the daily papers.  He might even for a brief moment replace The Chosen One’s smiling visage on the covers of the etiolated news weeklies which grow thinner in size and substance with each passing week.

But will millions tune in to watch the funeral proceedings from across the globe?  Will thousands descend into the streets in tears, inconsolable at the loss?  Will there be a sports arena filled with famous and non famous mourners, gathered to celebrate his life?  Will models and preachers and sports stars proclaim his heroism? (more…)

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Tags: Apollo 11, Culture, Michael Jackson, moonwalk, Neil Armstrong
Posted Jul 14th 2009 at 8:38 am in Celebrity News | 180978177 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/mpatterson/2009/07/14/moonwalker/Moonwalker%3A+The+Difference+Between+Achievement+and+Artifice2009-07-14+15%3A38%3A47Matt+Patterson