Do Not Miss The Eye-Opening, Almost Shocking Interview With Michael Yon About The State Of The Afghanistan War - Listen Here From Sunday’s “Jihadi Killer Hour” - Audio Button Fixed, Listen Now!
Click the top segment on the list of skinny ones underneath the big fucking thing on the very top to hear last night’s show with Michael Yon. Okay, shit, I just checked it, you can click the arrow on the fat thing at the very top too. That’ll work. And no, I didn’t talk like this when I was interviewing him, so it’s not all dumb-ass and non-informative and shit, don’t sweat it. Don’t forget, I did just win “Most Eloquent Host” on the BTR Conservative Awards, so it’s not like I’m gonna be all, you know, fuckin…whatever…shit…
Showtime as always is 8 PM Pacific, 11 PM Eastern. It’s live so please do call with whatever you’ve got to ask Mike. The buttons have been fixed, just please click on the one below. Chat room opens 15 minutes prior to show.
Michael Yon, what can I say, he’s now a legend of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The first of us indies to be given a full profile in the New York Times, Mike has been there longer than any of us, seen and done it all, at times to his great personal joy and satisfaction, and at times to his great personal horror, as Mike has been on the spot, camera in hand, when some of the most unspeakable of Al Qaeda’s atrocities were uncovered, often exclusively bringing the truth of such horrors to the world. The MSM didn’t seem to be as interested in bringing you the truths about our enemies as Mike did, and still does. You know the drill, they were driven by a political agenda and not as much interested in bringing you the truth about any of the war as much as bringing you whatever they could dig up, or even just make up, to sway your opinion against the war, the Republicans, and too often enough, our troops in harms way. A true independent, unbeholden to any MSM master with a political agenda, and unbeholden to any such agenda of his own, Mike is there and does exactly what the fuck a reporter is supposed to do: give us the unvarnished truth, call them as he sees them, dig deep and dive headlong into danger, whatever it takes to find that real story. Hell, it’s only history, lives and national security at stake whenever a reporter starts to bang those keys. He knows full well he’s going to affect all of the above by affecting the power behind the throne: public opinion. Is it really so important for him to get it right, to tell the truth? ( see the dictionary for “rhetorical question” if that sentence leaves you confused in any way.)
And if you’re new to Mike’s site, or just haven’t made it there in a while, you’ll see that Mike has also developed into one of the very best photojournalists in the world. The shots are just stunning. It’s been like watching that rookie draft pick no one thought too much about end up as the key player in the starting line-up; his talent with that camera has developed mightily and now just soars. You’ll remember this classic, even from his earliest days in Iraq:
So we’re very excited to have him live on the air tonight, ready to answer you questions. We’ll get the lowdown on why he’s now in Afghanistan, and what is the situation on the ground, the situation that is going to dictate the next key moves on the front lines of the Long War, the Global War on Terror.
For once, I’m proud to reprint something from the New York Times, from their aforementioned story on Michael:
“Michael Yon was not a journalist, and he wasn’t sure what a blogger was. He had been in uniform but not in combat, and he wanted to keep it that way. He went to Iraq thinking he would stay for a month, and maybe find a way to write about the war after he got home.
Instead, he has spent most of the last three years in Iraq, writing prolifically and graphically, and racking up more time embedded with combat units than any other journalist, according to the United States military. He has been shot at, buffeted by explosions and seen more people maimed — fighters and civilians, adults and children — than he can count.
He insists that he still does not really know the rules of journalism, but says he has recently, grudgingly, accepted that he has become a journalist.
His detailed, mostly admiring accounts of front-line soldiers’ daily work have won him a loyal following, especially among service members and journalists and bloggers who follow the war. One of his photographs showing an American soldier cradling an Iraqi girl injured in a car bombing (the girl later died) appeared on Time magazine’s Web site and was later voted one of top images of the year by visitors.
Mr. Yon, however, does not work for any organization; no news outlet pays him for the hundreds of dispatches and photos he has produced. He publishes his work on his own Web site, michaelyon-online.com (some will appear again in a book set for release in April), and he also posts submissions from military people serving in Iraq. He says contributions from his readers have paid most of his costs, though he declines to say how much they have given.
“His work has a remarkable, chin-out, unvarnished intimacy,” said Jackie Lyden, a National Public Radio reporter who has worked in Iraq. “He isn’t a guarded, diplomatically toned reporter; he can be very frank, and he questions his own assumptions.”
The Internet has fostered such citizen journalism, shaking up ideas about where news comes from, but few have taken on the expense and danger of working in a war zone. Mr. Yon’s daily expenses are small, but he has paid tens of thousands of dollars for computers, cameras, phones and body armor.
He went to Iraq believing that the mainstream news media were bungling the story, and he still often criticizes the media’s pessimism.
Here’s a more official, sorta stuffier bio provided by “Danger Girl”:
Michael Yon is a popular journalist, milblogger, and author whose first self-published autobiography is entitled Danger Close. An engrossing personal memoir, first published in 2001, Yon’s autobiography spans from his early, almost idyllic childhood in Florida to just after he completed his Special Forces training.He was one of the youngest soldiers ever to pass the grueling Green Beret selection process. Danger Close unflinchingly honest, raw at times, and filled with promise and portend of his career as an explorer and writer.
Today, Michael Yon is an accomplished war photographer who combines detailed,intimate storytelling and poignant, insightful eloquent essays with evocative war photos. His dispatches are a powerful record of the war, most often on the ground from the fighting man’s point of view. His most popular, evocative, riveting & heart stopping, dispatch is “Gates of Fire”
Michael delivers the good, the bad and ugly. When failed American leadership was driving Iraq into chaos and civil war, nobody told the story earlier or better than Michael Yon. The top brass was so mad that twice the U.S. military denied him access to Iraq.
A photograph he shot at the scene of a car bombing in Mosul received international media attention, resulting in his appearance on Fox News, CBS’s Early Morning, and ABC’s Good Morning America, as well as many radio programs. The photo was printed on the front page of more than fifty major U.S. daily newspapers, including the Washington Post, USA Today, the New York Post, and the Washington Times, and was Time magazine’s Viewers’ Choice photo of the year.
Michael Yon’s work has been featured in magazines and newspapers around the globe, from the New York Times to the London Sunday Times, and from the Weekly Standard to Jane’s Defense Weekly. His Web journal, located at www.michaelyon-online.com, has been featured on major news Web sites, including Time Online, MSNBC, Fox News, ABC News, CNN, and CBS and attracted the attention of Bruce Willis and Gary Sinise.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
We’ll probably get a lot of new listeners tonight from FreeRebublic and elsewhere, so you can expect some shocked
sensibilities. I’ve tried to warn them… 
September 14th, 2008 at 12:56 pmThanks for doing this, Mr. Dollard. These shows just get better and better. The “indies,” starting with Matt Drudge, overtook the MSM as far as covering the WHOLE story. If we didn’t have such independent coverage, who knows what our society would look like today?
Hooah, Michael Yon!
September 14th, 2008 at 1:00 pmI really liked hsi book, he is a true independent, not republican or democrat, just reporting what he sees, including acts of valor by our military
September 14th, 2008 at 4:09 pmYON > all the other war bloggers.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:12 pmCan’t wait for the show!!
Drill.. finally some eye candy for us gals huh?? hehehe
September 14th, 2008 at 4:36 pmBought and read his book…
This man is the real deal. Tell him thanks from us Pat
September 14th, 2008 at 4:40 pmI liked the part where HE was going to charge in to the building when the others froze.
One more
from me…
Pit Bull
September 14th, 2008 at 4:41 pmThis show is being talked about over at Blackfive too. I hope our troll killers have the bats all warmed up!! There will be a lot of new people so it’s going to be tricky, knocking out the real trolls and not just the n00bs.
September 14th, 2008 at 5:22 pmWHOA! Damn; I’m not worthy!
September 14th, 2008 at 5:52 pmNo worries about my Blackfive peeps. I know whose who from B5. This will be a great show. Mike’s a long time friend of mine. Pat’s a Hollywood peep of mine.
I spoke to Mike about 8 hours ago and he’s very excited to be a part of JihadiHour tonite.
September 14th, 2008 at 6:30 pmAnyone out there have a link to the show that works?
September 14th, 2008 at 6:56 pmDamn that was a great show!!
September 14th, 2008 at 9:07 pmOver a hundred in the chatroom including “guests” I wonder how many listeners we had total…….
September 14th, 2008 at 9:09 pmMichael Yon knows his shit. We’re lucky he’s out there doing the job of “journalists.”
September 14th, 2008 at 9:09 pmVery awesome show there is no better way to get to the truth than to here it from someone who’s there living the truth!
September 14th, 2008 at 9:12 pmI just listened to Michael Yon. Excellent interview Pat! Actually this is the first time I have caught the show live. Sounds great!
September 14th, 2008 at 9:13 pmGreat Show!!!
Remember to please support his mission by donating at
www.michaelyon- online.com
You can also donate by purchasing his latest book “Moment of Truth in Iraq” or any of his evocative photography.
A GREAT new dispatch, titled ” Death In The Corn” will be published Monday at www.michaelyon-online.com
September 14th, 2008 at 9:14 pmWell, that was a terrific show. I’m glad Michael is doing OK
September 14th, 2008 at 9:17 pmLoved it! Thanks for the great interview!
September 14th, 2008 at 9:18 pmGreat Show!!!
Remember to please support his mission by donating at
www.michaelyon- online.com
You can also donate by purchasing his latest book “Moment of Truth in Iraq” or any of his evocative photography.
Michael will have a GREAT new dispatch, titled ” Death In The Corn” published Monday
September 14th, 2008 at 9:18 pmI’ve finally heard a real journalist speak on this. The good and the bad. Facts. I truly enjoyed listening to him. Pat.. again.. thank you so much for having him. I know you had to have gone to a lot of trouble for that.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:20 pmGreat Show!!!
Remember to please support his mission by donating at
www.michaelyon-online.com
You can also donate by purchasing his latest book “Moment of Truth in Iraq” or any of his evocative photography.
Michael will publish a GREAT new dispatch, titled ” Death In The Corn” on Monday.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:21 pmGreat show Pat. Nice talking to you again afterwards. You should have the CD I sent you in your snailmailbox by now.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:28 pmi’m at work now but i cant wait to hear the rest of this show tonight. semper fidelis
September 14th, 2008 at 9:30 pmEverybody that posted links in the chat should put them up again here in the comments…
September 14th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Thanks for listening evreyboday, I was truly honored to have Michael here with us. And he stayed the whole two hours. I just hope I asked the right and important questions about what’s going on, and what we need to do, in the new iraq - Afghanistan. And I’m sorry for not taking more callers, we were just on a roll, and damn, how fucking fast does two hours go when you’re talking about something important, that means a lot to you, and you’ve got nowhere else to turn to for the real information?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:35 pmPat.. you asked the right questions. Made the right points. I think we all came away a little more knowledgeable. And you are right 2 hours is gone like a blink of the eye.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:45 pmSomeone mentioned MSNBC a few minutes ago - I think it was Drill - so what is going on over there? Please tell me Olbermann got the axxxxx!
September 14th, 2008 at 9:48 pmJust got an email message in which Mike said in part: “Thanks, that was a great interview” and thanked you all for tuning in.
He’ll see this comment thread so if you’ve got somethng to say, say it
September 14th, 2008 at 10:16 pmThank you Mike for all the work you do, if it wasn’t for you and others like you we would never know the truth of what’s happening. Lord knows our media system come completely loose of it’s axle and running a muck causing chaos and mayhem wherever it travels.
to you and all of our men and women stationed in harms way, may the One True God protect you all.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:27 pmMike Yon … a couple of years ago I had a question about SSG Holt that I saw in your “Punishers Ball” dispatch. I didn’t have an email address for you so Matty forwarded my message to you. I received your reply within an hour of me hitting the send button. I never really expected to get a response at all. Your character shines through even in just answering your emails and we, your readers, appreciate it more than you know. Keep up the fantastic work you do, stay safe and thanks for all the truth you dispatched over the years.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:28 pmIf you don’t mind me asking, what do you do in Hollywood?
September 14th, 2008 at 10:30 pmKeep up the great work Michael, you have to stay safe while you go un-embedded, we need you in this media war that hysterically undermines our troops.
I know I speak for a lot of people when I say many
thanks for bringing us the truthful reporting from the war zones, both the bad and good, and that’s the truthful reporting that the corrupt liberal media won’t do.
On the show a couple weeks back we talked about fighting, in effect, a rear guard versus liberal anti-war, anti-U.S. troop propaganda. It’s because of guys like you and Pat that those of us fighting the rear guard back here are encouraged to keep up the good fight in supporting out warriors who are laying it all on the line. You guys deserve many props as it’s SO, SO important!!
September 14th, 2008 at 10:35 pmThat was an incredible show! I am anxious to read Yon’s books. I have ordered them. He is doing an excellent job in every arena over there. I was amazed he was able to be on the show for so long. You could even hear the flyovers! It was great.
It had to be difficult to arrange for that kind of time while he is in Afghanistan.
You did an awesome job tonight Pat! The show was very informative and addressed many issues.
Our troops face a great deal over there and they need all of our support through everything to come.
We know when we read things from Michael Yon and Pat Dollard that we can trust what they are saying.
September 14th, 2008 at 11:00 pmThat is something I value most.
I loved the show. Crazy mother fucker. But, our country was built by crazy mother fuckers. Crazy went to a tea party, Crazy fixed bayonets on Little Round Top, Crazy climbed into Spads, Wildcats, F4´s, Crazy took a stroll through France, Crazy froze his crazy ass off at Chosin, Crazy survived 5 years at a hotel in Hanoi, Crazy hung Saddam´s nasty ass, Crazy is on a mother fucking roll. Did I mention he´s crazy?
September 15th, 2008 at 2:22 amSo true. They are the best!
P.S. - I forgot to say a big thanks to Uncle Jimbo over at Blackfive and The Wolf for posting the story about the show so more people could hear it!
I have read their blog and watched their videos on YT when I can and they are all awesome over there at Blackfive!
September 15th, 2008 at 5:09 amIf you don’t mind me asking, what do you do in Hollywood?
However I co-produce major events during the Oscars, Emmys, Sundance & Toronto Film Festivals, & I’m involved with two very exciting potential film projects.
Michaels latest dispatch ‘Death in the Corn” Part 1 of 3 is on his site. Please check it out. www.michaelyon-online.com
(Sorry for the threepeat posts of last nite. Not sure what happened: gremlims poltergiest obama???)
September 15th, 2008 at 6:59 amThanks for a great show. (I’m working now and catch the repeat).
Why did Mr. Yon, calling all the way from Afgahnistan, sound better than everyone else? Ya’ll should get a phone like his!
September 15th, 2008 at 11:19 amFine interview in the end, but a bit frustrating, as the host was severely infected with host-itis, the need to talk as much as possible rather than standing back and letting the guest have the floor. Includes such symptoms as trying to put words in the guest’s mouth, and urging the guest to sign on to his own views and interpretations rather than eliciting the guest’s.
September 16th, 2008 at 12:20 pmSorry I Missed It, Out of town on my TN Land still looking for a good place to put a Bunker!! I will be back at home Fri. Talk to you all soon.
September 16th, 2008 at 6:02 pmHow long have you been posting here, man? What’s the matter, you don’t remember my name? If you’re gonna have the balls to insult me, then have the balls to step up to me and do it to my face, and address me by my name. It’s not “the host”. It’s Mr.Dollard.
I can’t accurately address your points (all of which may be correct for all I know), and will now have to take two hours out of my life to once again listen to the interview, because you make your points with the same combat effectiveness as you do bravery of address. You’ve got a laundry list of easily tossed-off insults and not one example, not one shred of presented evidence to back them up. Very bitch-like character assassination. It’s just like, “That guy, he’s a thief, he steals shit.” and that’s all you say.
Okay, “Brian, your wife’s a slut. At least that’s what two people who know you have emailed me since your comment. But they say you know and don’t care, and in fact she does it, because of that time you got arrested sucking cock in the park bathroom.”
I’ll get back to you after I listen. How’s your show going?
Note to everyone: I do not have time to engage in drawn-out, gay-ass comment board insulting tit for tats. If you have something critical to say to me, you do not have to temper or weaken your message, but address your issue, word your critique in a manner that is respectful, polite and even if you’re faking it, has the appearance of liking me enough to give some helpful advice because 1. you think you’re qualified to give it and 2. would like to see the site and show, improve. Example: Brian H. could have said “All in all, blah, blah, but Pat, if I may, this is where I had some real challenges as a listener. I found myself frustrated at times when Mike was talking and you cut him off, actually repeatedly….and I know you feel strongly about X, but it felt like you were trying to put words in Yon’s mouth…blah, blah. I really like the show, I know you’re new at this, so I thought I’d give you my two cents, for what its worth”. Notice even the touch of humility at the end, something which we should all display when talking to friends here, let alone the fucking host who even when he sucks, we all know is breaking his balls to keep the place going. The above example is called constructive criticism and civil discourse (and that may not be the way I write my posts but I sure as fuck don’t headline them “Hey, Asshole Readers, You Suck”.) All this “severely infected with hostitis, the need to talk as much as possible”…cool, address me, even through third party pronouns like “the host”, in that language…on your site, not mine. Cos if an argument is started shittilly, or my honor is challenged, or I am disrespected, then I can’t let it stand publicly, and suddenly I’ve got a 12th full time job of playing reindeer games all over the Goddamned comment boards. So in general don’t even bother to address me in a manner that demands a response because you’ve made it personal. I don’t have the time, I just don’t. The comments either won’t be posted or will be deleted. Just as Brian could have made every single point he did in a more appropriate way - and again, he may be right on those points, I will listen - so can you.
Fuck is wrong with you, Brian? You’ve been a solid, smart and long-time contributor here.
September 17th, 2008 at 2:27 amMr. Dollard, if I may.
I enjoy the show very much. I enjoy listening to you have a heart to heart talk with each contributor on a case by case basis. I enjoy that your views, while not always politically correct, are very similar to mine and other experienced veterans of combat.
I sincerely appreciate the attention given to those of us who a very short time ago had no way of putting ourselves out there for public consumption, primarily because there were no outlets for old turds like me. I call myself old, but it has been in the very recent past that I served, bled, and cried for my friends who never made it home to see their kids. I lived in the military through most of Clinton’s term. All of one and half of the second.
I know you are waiting on the “but”, but there isn’t one. I think you do an excellent job at presenting our side of things. The side of things that is always “hush, hush” and nobody likes to talk about. The side of things that get whispered about by the liberal brainless turds, and then exploited when we snap and go off like a cherry bomb. “PTSD!PTSD! HEY ANDY!!!” [/Barney Fife impression]
Brian H, it is obvious to me that you don’t “get it”. Mr. Dollard speaks to everyone on his show, primarily because Mr. Dollard understands both what they have seen, and where they have been, including the veterans. Better yet, he understands where they are at present.
Not to suck up, but lately I have been in a very dark hole in my life. I got laid off from a job I spent a very big part of my life at and was told it was ‘for the greater good’ so that the economy will look worse and Obama can get elected. I was told this, and being that I live in a right to work state, I have no recourse but to well up and grit my teeth. I am watching my life fall apart in front of my eyes, and it is taking me to places in my soul I never wanted to visit again. Mr. Dollard’s site, and quite frankly personal attention to these dark places has kept me from “eating the gun”. Mr. Dollard’s devotion to making this site the best it can be, not for himself, but for those of us who “get it”, is worthy of praise, regardless of whether or not you think he is trying to overstate his opinion. If you haven’t noticed yet, he has earned that right by walking in our boots, even if it was for a brief period. He has tasted the blood, smelled death up close and personal, and has seen the evil man can do.
Thank you, Mr. Dollard, for every ounce of effort you put into this site, your life’s work, and giving us a place we can light up the dark spaces in our hearts and minds.
It has been my honor, sir.
September 17th, 2008 at 2:57 amI’ve known Mike for years and I can assure you NO ONE, I MEAN NO ONE, puts words into Mike’s mouth NOR does Mike Yon EVER sign on to ANY OTHER PERSONS own views and interpretations!
NOT. EVER.
Mike is his own man, firm in his convictions and view points.
So whatever you THOUGHT you heard, whatever you THINK happened, DIDN’T.
My relationship with Pat is one in which if I thought he had done any of the things you seem to have imagined, I WOULD HAVE TOLD HIM immediately!
Pat knows I do NOT hold back what I think. EVER!!
In speaking with Mike, he expressed how much he enjoyed the great conversation Pat, for whom he has much respect.
September 17th, 2008 at 4:16 am