Yon: Afghanistan Election Report from North Helmand

WorldAugust 2009 • Views: 2,518

In Afghanistan’s North Helmand Province, where Michael Yon is embedded with the Brits, the elections didn’t turn out very well.

This dispatch has been dictated by satellite phone due to communications difficulties. My satellite gear has failed on election day. I do not know how well the elections turned out in other parts of Afghanistan. Here in North Helmand Provence, near Sangin, I am told that less than 300 people voted. In this area the day was marked by serious fighting. Apache attack helicopters were firing their cannons throughout the day. The howitzers fired many times. The mortars were firing. Various bases were attacked. On the mission I accompanied the snipers were firing. We got into a firefight, and the soldier beside me had his antenna shot off. I would not characterize this as a failure of the elections, it was a local setback. We saw the same in Iraq in early 2005, where some people boycotted the elections. The situation here is not good, but this is only one area of Afghanistan. I do not know what happened elsewhere.

Michael

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50 comments

Danny Thu, Aug 20, 2009 2:47:00pm

Hard to vote dodging bombs and bullets.

Sharmuta Thu, Aug 20, 2009 2:47:13pm

Stay safe, Mr. Yon!

Shiplord Kirel Thu, Aug 20, 2009 2:48:41pm

The true voice of war. It gives me the shivers.

Shug Thu, Aug 20, 2009 2:48:46pm

300 prople voted.
Risked their lives to vote.
but they voted

and less than half of Americans turned out to vote in the last presidential election.

We are truly blessed to live in America. Pity so many of us don't know that

Ben Hur Thu, Aug 20, 2009 2:53:34pm

Hello?

Erik The Red Thu, Aug 20, 2009 2:53:58pm

re: #5 Ben Hur

Hello?

Hello back.

Russkilitlover Thu, Aug 20, 2009 2:54:06pm

Apache attack helicopters were firing their cannons throughout the day. The howitzers fired many times. The mortars were firing

Sounds just like my neighborhood for the past few days. Those Pendleton folks have been busy - day and night. My windows rattle and I have to straighten the pictures all day long.

Can only mean they are training for deployment. God speed, Marines.

Russkilitlover Thu, Aug 20, 2009 2:54:55pm

re: #5 Ben Hur

Hello?

No, it's YOU say goodbye, I say hello.

quickjustice Thu, Aug 20, 2009 2:57:08pm

The Afghan people deserve better, but the forces of darkness are besides themselves trying to extinguish a tiny light. They understand what a threat democracy is to them.

midwestgak Thu, Aug 20, 2009 2:57:16pm

Karzai hails from southern Afghanistan. He may fair better there.

Killian Bundy Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:00:22pm

re: #10 midwestgak

Karzai hails from southern Afghanistan. He may fair better there.

Helmand Provence is in southern Afghanistan, the south is where the Taliban are in control.

/voting should be better in northern Afghanistan

Ben Hur Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:03:19pm

Midwest 5 pm Rapture.

Ben Hur Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:03:41pm

BBL

Joshua Cohen Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:04:05pm

Election Fireworks...

Tatterdemalian Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:05:14pm

re: #4 Shug

We are truly blessed to live in America. Pity so many of us don't know that

Amen to that. I live in a country where drama is more important than martial prowess when it comes to selecting leaders, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Also, the poor people are fat and rich people are dying of (self imposed) starvation. It's a country that the world has never seen the likes of before, and if anything happens to it we'll probably never see the likes of it again.

Diamond Bullet Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:06:11pm

The violence is regrettable, but at the same time it's hard to regret something that so clearly pisses off the Taliban.

wrenchwench Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:09:15pm

Typo in the headline. "F"-less Afghanistan.

wrenchwench Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:10:01pm

Aghastistan might be good.

Joshua Cohen Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:21:35pm

Does anybody know why he is doing this?

It is damn dangerous and its not for the money nor fame.

Charles Johnson Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:21:47pm

Fixed those script timeouts on long comment threads in Internet Exploder, by the way. It was the Infolinks.

calcajun Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:22:25pm

Sigh.

I am beginning to think that there is more truth to the statements:

"Governments are a reflection of the society which they govern,"

and

"People get the government they deserve,"

than I once thought.

Some societies need a lot of time and a lot more pain to reach where the west is.

Danny Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:27:37pm

re: #19 Joshua Cohen

Does anybody know why he is doing this?

It is damn dangerous and its not for the money nor fame.

To find us the truth.

mikalm Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:28:34pm

Prayers for Mr. Yon's safety, and for that of the brave Afghanis who turned out to vote.

Rancher Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:29:54pm

We got into a firefight, and the soldier beside me had his antenna shot off.

I pray Michael gets out of there alive. He is our best source for what's going on out there and survives on donations. Visit his site and throw a litlle something into the tip jar.

ArmyWife Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:37:06pm

re: #24 Rancher

My prayers are with Michael Yon as well as the brave men and women. One of our family's very closest friend is there, so if you have some time, please keep my dear SGM Mike in your thoughts, too.

Killgore Trout Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:38:15pm

CNN sez things went better in other parts of the country...

Afghan count begins in tents

Election workers labored in tents by the light of battery-powered lanterns, counting ballots after a day of brisk voting Thursday.

aboo-Hoo-Hoo Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:41:43pm

Fred Kagen has(what I consider) some extremely important information he is passing along for those that follow such things in his post: The Taliban on Election Day

It appears that the Taliban has conducted a series of calibrated attacks aimed at using the minimum amount of violence to reduce voting as much as possible. [...] There are two ways of looking at this. One is that the Taliban was unable to conduct a large number of mass-casualty attacks. The other is that it chose not to do so. The latter is more likely. The Taliban has always faced a challenge in attempting to undermine the elections. Its cultural sensitivity leads it to avoid killing civilians whenever possible, but disrupting elections requires attacking targets with large numbers of civilians. The violence today suggests an attempt to square the circle. Taliban forces fired rockets at polling places and into cities early in the morning when few people were around to be injured. [...]

Killgore Trout Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:42:41pm

re: #27 aboo-Hoo-Hoo

Interesting.

Joshua Cohen Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:43:16pm

re: #20 Charles

ok. thx!

Joshua Cohen Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:46:35pm

re: #22 Danny

To find us the truth.

Maybe - but that could not be all.

HelloDare Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:50:02pm

VA counsels vets to consider death as an alternative to treatment

If President Obama wants to better understand why America's discomfort with end-of-life discussions threatens to derail his health-care reform, he might begin with his own Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He will quickly discover how government bureaucrats are greasing the slippery slope that can start with cost containment but quickly become a systematic denial of care.

Last year, bureaucrats at the VA's National Center for Ethics in Health Care advocated a 52-page end-of-life planning document, "Your Life, Your Choices." It was first published in 1997 and later promoted as the VA's preferred living will throughout its vast network of hospitals and nursing homes. After the Bush White House took a look at how this document was treating complex health and moral issues, the VA suspended its use. Unfortunately, under President Obama, the VA has now resuscitated "Your Life, Your Choices."

Who is the primary author of this workbook? Dr. Robert Pearlman, chief of ethics evaluation for the center, a man who in 1996 advocated for physician-assisted suicide in Vacco v. Quill before the U.S. Supreme Court and is known for his support of health-care rationing.

"Your Life, Your Choices" presents end-of-life choices in a way aimed at steering users toward predetermined conclusions, much like a political "push poll." For example, a worksheet on page 21 lists various scenarios and asks users to then decide whether their own life would be "not worth living."

The circumstances listed include ones common among the elderly and disabled: living in a nursing home, being in a wheelchair and not being able to "shake the blues." There is a section which provocatively asks, "Have you ever heard anyone say, 'If I'm a vegetable, pull the plug'?" There also are guilt-inducing scenarios such as "I can no longer contribute to my family's well being," "I am a severe financial burden on my family" and that the vet's situation "causes severe emotional burden for my family."

When the government can steer vulnerable individuals to conclude for themselves that life is not worth living, who needs a death panel?

One can only imagine a soldier surviving the war in Iraq and returning without all of his limbs only to encounter a veteran's health-care system that seems intent on his surrender.

I was not surprised to learn that the VA panel of experts that sought to update "Your Life, Your Choices" between 2007-2008 did not include any representatives of faith groups or disability rights advocates. And as you might guess, only one organization was listed in the new version as a resource on advance directives: the Hemlock Society (now euphemistically known as "Compassion and Choices").

Danny Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:50:04pm

re: #30 Joshua Cohen

Maybe - but that could not be all.

That's basically what it says on his site.

Following accounts in the American press, Michael became concerned that we were losing the war. At the same time, friends in the military said that the media was not telling the whole story. Not wanting to take sides in the increasingly acrimonious argument over the war, Michael simply wanted to learn the truth for himself, and to report without fear or favor.

Rancher Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:50:54pm

re: #25 ArmyWife

My prayers are with Michael Yon as well as the brave men and women. One of our family's very closest friend is there, so if you have some time, please keep my dear SGM Mike in your thoughts, too.

I'd be honored to.

[deleted] Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:51:05pm

Hawaii69 Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:51:49pm

re: #27 aboo-Hoo-Hoo

Fred Kagen has(what I consider) some extremely important information he is passing along for those that follow such things in his post: The Taliban on Election Day

Yeah, I heard one reporter saying that she had heard several explosions and gun fire outside of a particular city, but had there were no reports of attacks at the time.

I was thinking that it wouldn't suprise me if the Taliban were just setting off bombs, and firing weapons, with no partcicular target. Just the sounds would be enough to keep people indoors, and they woulnd't get the negative PR that real attacks on polling stations would cause.

That's not to say that there were no actual attacks in some areas, but there are a lot of disconnected groups operating there.

Danny Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:51:57pm

re: #34 MikeySDCA

I don't think those are what motivates him.

[deleted] Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:53:22pm

Lee Coller Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:55:04pm

OT -- Charles

You might want to check out the phantom downdinger/crazy updinger DirtCrashr on the Viper Militia thread.

aboo-Hoo-Hoo Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:55:42pm

re: #28 Killgore Trout

Very.

McCrystal's has some time to put-it-together but not much. And he's not going to get any more forces unless he can sell the Obaman and Afghani's the London Bridge over Havasu.

Joshua Cohen Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:59:05pm

re: #32 Danny

That's basically what it says on his site.

Following accounts in the American press, Michael became concerned that we were losing the war. At the same time, friends in the military said that the media was not telling the whole story. Not wanting to take sides in the increasingly acrimonious argument over the war, Michael simply wanted to learn the truth for himself, and to report without fear or favor.

As far as I got it he is an ex commando-guy or at least with lots of military background.
Usually these people are missing something in the common, boring life and are just happy - or feel alive - if someone is shooting on them or throwing grenades after them.
It's not that I do not respect him, but he is taking a lot of risks, some not necessary and I am afraid that he will pay the final prize.

pre-Boomer Marine brat Thu, Aug 20, 2009 3:59:27pm

Well done, Mr. Yon.

/yes, Mr. Rather, there are still some war correspondents out there

BakiShamil Thu, Aug 20, 2009 4:03:39pm

I would hate who I want to hate.

Cato the Elder Thu, Aug 20, 2009 4:05:20pm

re: #15 Tatterdemalian

Amen to that. I live in a country where drama is more important than martial prowess when it comes to selecting leaders, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Really? Drama? You actually prefer that to reason?

Also, the poor people are fat and rich people are dying of (self imposed) starvation.

Chortle. The skinny rich are dying? Of what? Taxes?

It's a country that the world has never seen the likes of before, and if anything happens to it we'll probably never see the likes of it again.

Perhaps, who knows, the world will be relieved.

re: #21 calcajun

Some societies need a lot of time and a lot more pain to reach where the west is.

Some would do well to avoid where the west is.

Son of the Black Dog Thu, Aug 20, 2009 4:07:58pm

re: #34 MikeySDCA

Book deal? Pulitzer?

He deserves both. Unfortunately the Pulitzer committee is loaded with far left types, so he probably won't even get consideration. Be nice if he did, though.

quickjustice Thu, Aug 20, 2009 4:12:24pm

From Rudyard Kipling's poem, "Ford O' Kabul River":

"Turn your ’orse from Kabul town—
Blow the bugle, draw the sword—
’Im an’ ’arf my troop is down,
Down an’ drownded by the ford.
Ford, ford, ford o’ Kabul river,
Ford o’ Kabul river in the dark!
There’s the river low an’ fallin’, but it ain’t no use o’ callin’
’Cross the ford o’ Kabul river in the dark."

Ward Cleaver Thu, Aug 20, 2009 5:15:06pm

Michael is supposed to be on with Hugh Hewitt this evening, via satphone.

tatterdemalian Thu, Aug 20, 2009 5:24:27pm

re: #43 Cato the Elder

Really? Drama? You actually prefer that to reason?

Reason will never move people in the numbers drama does. People do things based on what they believe, not based on what they know, and trying to pretend differently will result in the same mistakes Lenin made when he thought the Russians could be weaned off their desire to own stuff.

For better or for worse, popularity is the one true power in the world, and building that popularity is dependent on telling people what they want to hear, which is very often the diametric opposite of what they NEED to hear. The only ways to make unpleasant facts palatable (i.e. keep people from declaring, "what you say is stupid, and I won't listen any more") is either by entertaining people with drama, or by proving on the battlefield that people will either listen to you or die. I happen to prefer the former.

Optimizer Fri, Aug 21, 2009 9:12:22am

re: #11 Killian Bundy

Helmand Provence is in southern Afghanistan, the south is where the Taliban are in control.

/voting should be better in northern Afghanistan

Yes, it's right in the SW corner. But it's even more than what you say.

That's the province with Khandahar, which was basically the capital for the Taliban (even while not the capital of the country as a whole) back when it was in control. It's the province where Mullah Omar was holed-up (maybe still is), and one of the places Osama used to hang out. One would naturally expect this province to be one of (if not THE) worst in Afghanistan.

I'm a fan of Yon's - so I hate to say it - but his omission of this context seems a poor reflection on his journalism. OTOH, since he's embedded, you would naturally expect he's be in an especially bad area. You'd just expect his article to reflect that fact, and it doesn't seem to - it shouldn't require the reader to "put two-and-two together" like that.

Danny Fri, Aug 21, 2009 10:19:02am

re: #48 Optimizer

I may be misunderstanding you, but if you are saying that the current dispatch fails to convey that he is in an exceptionally dangerous place, I disagree. He specifically says where he is (Sangin) and describes copious fire from howitzers, mortars, attack helicopters, snipers, etc. Granted, the dispatch is short on detail due to hardware failure, but if you have been reading his dispatches over the last couple of months, it's crystal clear that he is in an area controlled by the Taliban.

Optimizer Fri, Aug 21, 2009 7:20:21pm

re: #49 Danny

I may be misunderstanding you, ... if you have been reading his dispatches over the last couple of months, it's crystal clear that he is in an area controlled by the Taliban.

I'm just observing that all he says about the political situation at his location is:

The situation here is not good, but this is only one area of Afghanistan. I do not know what happened elsewhere.

He doesn't state, or even imply, "but this is to be expected, since this is Taliban-controlled territory." It comes off to me as, "I don't know about the rest of the country, but nobody's voting here."

Perhaps part of the problem is that I have not been reading his dispatches (although I would have liked to). But a good reporter should never presume that his reader has ever read any of his stuff before.

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