Michael Yon....Hotel Under Fire
michaelyon-online.com
Hotel Under Fire
29 June 2011
Kabul, Afghanistan
There is heavy security around Kabul. A “ring of steel”, as they call it, which is under Afghan authority. I’ve been driving around Kabul for several weeks and have never seen a foreign guard, and seldom see US or other forces on the roads. I’ve been walking around town, shopping in shops and eating in restaurants. All day yesterday and today I was out in the city with no weapon and no troops. I wear western clothes and sunglasses and seldom get an extra look while driving around in various sorts of taxis and private cars.
Expats are out past midnight at the few local restaurants that sell alcohol. This is not Baghdad. Fighting there was nearly constant and often sustained. If this were Baghdad, I’d have been dead the first day. Any ideas that Kabul is falling are remarkably wrong. There are, however, some dangers and occasional suicide attacks that are nakedly designed to get press.
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Major fighting will soon begin in Afghanistan. I will be there providing coverage as I have done in the past. Your support is crucial. If you have enjoyed or benefited from my free dispatches, please consider supporting future work via: Paypal, or my Post Office Box, or other Methods of Support.
Osama bin Laden is dead, but the war rolls on.
Michael Yon
Comments (6)
Read more: Cheering for Mass Murder
Message From Secretary Gates
29 June 2011
The message below is going out this morning to all US military personnel, active and reserve, around the world:
TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES:
TOMORROW, 30 JUNE 2011, I WILL RETIRE AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. IT HAS BEEN THE GREATEST HONOR OF MY LIFE TO SERVE AND TO LEAD YOU FOR THE PAST FOUR AND A HALF YEARS.
ALL OF THAT TIME WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN TWO WARS AND COUNTLESS OTHER OPERATIONS. IT HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR FAMILIES, FROM LONG AND REPEATED DEPLOYMENTS FOR THOSE IN ALL FOUR SERVICES -- AND THE ASSOCIATED LONG SEPARATIONS FROM LOVED ONES -- TO THE ANGUISH OF THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE LOST FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN COMBAT OR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SUFFERED VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE WOUNDS OF WAR YOURSELVES.
BUT YOUR DEDICATION, COURAGE AND SKILL HAVE KEPT AMERICA SAFE EVEN WHILE BRINGING THE WAR IN IRAQ TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION AND, I BELIEVE, AT LAST TURNING THE TIDE IN AFGHANISTAN. YOUR COUNTRYMEN OWE YOU THEIR FREEDOM AND THEIR SECURITY. THEY SLEEP SAFELY AT NIGHT AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS DURING THE DAY BECAUSE YOU STAND THE WATCH AND PROTECT THEM.
FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS, I HAVE SIGNED THE ORDERS DEPLOYING YOU, ALL TOO OFTEN INTO HARM'S WAY. THIS HAS WEIGHED ON ME EVERY DAY. I HAVE KNOWN ABOUT AND FELT YOUR HARDSHIP, YOUR DIFFICULTIES, YOUR SACRIFICE MORE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE. I HAVE FELT PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH OF YOU, AND SO I HAVE TRIED TO DO ALL I COULD TO PROVIDE WHATEVER WAS NEEDED SO YOU COULD COMPLETE YOUR MISSIONS SUCCESSFULLY AND COME HOME SAFELY -- AND, IF HURT, GET THE FASTEST AND BEST CARE IN THE WORLD.
YOU ARE THE BEST THAT AMERICA HAS TO OFFER. MY ADMIRATION AND AFFECTION FOR YOU IS WITHOUT LIMIT, AND I WILL THINK ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES AND PRAY FOR YOU EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. GOD BLESS YOU.
//ROBERT M. GATES//
________________________________________
Major fighting will soon begin in Afghanistan. I will be there providing coverage as I have done in the past. Your support is crucial. If you have enjoyed or benefited from my free dispatches, please consider supporting future work via: Paypal, or my Post Office Box, or other Methods of Support.
Osama bin Laden is dead, but the war rolls on.
Michael Yon
Comments (1)
Eight suicide bombers killed by Afghan National Police forces in Kabul
29 June 2011
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Ministry of Interior of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
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Directorate of media and public relation
Statement
Date: 29/June/2011
No: 191
Eight suicide bombers killed by Afghan National Police forces in Kabul
Kabul- Ministry of Interior
Kabul:
The enemies of peace and stability committed another unforgivable and shameful crime while eight suicide bombers attacked the intercontinental hotel in capital Kabul.
As a result of Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army and Coalition force's fast reaction and by air support of the NATO forces eight suicide bombers were killed.
In the meantime, in this suicide attack 10 people were killed including two policemen and eight other people were injured including one policeman.
Ministry of Interior Affairs condemns in the strongest terms this suicide attack and wishes quick health recovery for the injuries and expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims.
________________________________________
Major fighting will soon begin in Afghanistan. I will be there providing coverage as I have done in the past. Your support is crucial. If you have enjoyed or benefited from my free dispatches, please consider supporting future work via: Paypal, or my Post Office Box, or other Methods of Support.
Osama bin Laden is dead, but the war rolls on.
Michael Yon |
