Nick Gurr: Reply to Michael Yon

Last week Michael posted a highly critical piece on the ending of his embed with Task Force Helmand (TFH). This attracted a large number of posts from outraged readers supportive of Michael. I undertook to investigate what had happened. I have now done so.

I know that some readers will not be sympathetic to the MOD's position on a matter such as this. But I would be grateful if you would hear me out. It is clear that there has been a (to quote Michael) "Texas-sized" misunderstanding here, made worse by various other factors, and I apologise for any part that MOD has played in that. But there are a few important points that I would like to make:

Michael's embed is the longest of any person this year by quite some way. Most embeds are for between one and two weeks. And demand for embeds with TFH always exceeds our capacity to supply. I wish that were not the case. But it is. Despite this, we have facilitated 136 media visits to TFH since January this year. On average there were about three people per visit, which means that some 400 media people have visited TFH over the first nine months of this year.

Michael's embed ended because the media ops team needed to assist a number of visits by other journalists, including a package from Northern Ireland regional newspapers (home ground for 19 Brigade), reporters from The Times and Independent, a BBC TV crew, a documentary team and a team from PA. Capacity is limited. I can understand that this may have looked different to Michael. But it was the reason that the embed ended when it did.

Hence the Defence Secretary's reply to Anne Winterton.

Last, and most importantly, while we take a number of factors into account in deciding who to embed and when (when an individual was last embedded, when his/her organisation was, readership), a demand for positive coverage is not among them. We believe that the efforts of our forces in theatre will speak for themselves. Of course we hope for balance - and by and large we get that. We have certainly never had an issue with Michael's reporting.

Clearly something appears to have gone seriously wrong in this case. But everyone in theatre is working under huge pressure which will sometimes generate friction and, as I said, I am sorry if Michael felt he was not being treated as he should be. I am assured that the media ops team in theatre worked hard to support him. It is a shame that the experience should have ended on a sour note.

I hope Michael will find the time to drop in for a chat about how we go forward from here when he is next in London.

Comments

[robert]

This appears very useful info.Regards.http://www.mypsychicadvice.com

[casstx]

/I can understand that this may have looked different to Michael./

It looks different to whole lot of us, and the timing was terribly coincidental. I for one don't believe in coincidence. Mike reported on the lack of air support and materiel, the Mod didn't like that, the citizens in the UK didn't know that, the Mod stopped his embed before schedule. You can spin it the way you want, but facts speak pretty loud.

[Pid]

If comments are moderated, who approved the "Psychic Advice" comment?

Is the Major who interacted with Michael in charge here now?

[chris]

If indeed this is what happens why not contact Mike and address the concerns about "Bob" and the way he is treating other members of the press. I enjoy Mike's website and his stories, so I feel storngly that his reporting is top notch. It is obvious this embed ended before it should have and without any warning to him. If you truly want to make it right, contact him, take issue with the people who are treating the reporters badly at that base, and invite him back.

[Phil]

It still doesn't explain why his embed was terminated early.

[Dave in SC]

With all respect to the British military (for continued support in this war), i'm having a bit of a problem completely swallowing the MoD talking points here.

As I recall, Yon was unceremoniously thrown out on his hindquarters without warning, then told to leave the base without warning and without any sane options, when in fact the persons supposedly coming to take his place didn't materialize as argued.

Furthermore, this leads to a very serious set of questions as to MoD's ability to plan ahead if in fact they were ending an embed due to bringing others in, yet didn't know about it untill a few hours ahead of time???

Something smells fishy here..

Has our Helmand Facebook Hero been consulted in the construction of this response?

[David Norris]

Texas-sized misunderstanding? The timing was very important in regards to your dismissal. When a reporter starts saying that the soldiers are not getting enough of supplies, air support, etc. and then that country suddenly removes him…I find that not to be a coincidence. No offense everything you say sounds like your covering your tracks. And your last little sneer of “drop by to London” does not go very far. Why don’t you go stay in Afghanistan for a year?

[DangerGirl]

Hmmm. Maybe its my years of working in Hollywood where I leart to spin by some of the best but if it smells like spin --- it's spin. This smell like spin.

I do NOT believe in 'coincidence' - Mike wrote the truth about lack of air support, which embarrassed those at the top of the food chain, and suddenly his embed was terminated.

Surely the MoD KNEW WELL in advance that a number of journalists needed to be accommodated.

Media Ops usually provides notice to journalists a week in advance of their that their embeds have been approved which begs the questions:

Why was Michael not given -at the minimum -a weeks notice as soon as the Media Ops team KNEW OF and/or APPROVED other embeds.

Had they done that perpahps this ' misunderstanding' could have been avoided.

Media Ops also bears responsibility for interfering with and by fiat, preventing Mike's embed with the US Marines.
An embed that was extremely important to those living in the US with loved ones fighting in AFG.

You owe an apology not only to Michael Yon but also to his loyal readers who are FURIOUS that they won't be able to hear first hand accounts about their loved one serving with the Marines in AFG thanks to the actions of the UK Media Ops team at the time.

Spin this any way you want so you can sleep better, but most of us are too smart to buy what you're selling.

AT LEAST ONE WEEKS ADVANCE NOTICE SHOULD HAVE & COULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO MICHAEL YON.

Since it wasn't and his termination came within hours of his story about the lack of air support--- the evidence speaks for itself - His termination was done purely out of spite, not out of necessity!

[DangerGirl]

Hmmm. Maybe its my years of working in Hollywood where I learnt to spin by some of the best but if it smells like spin --- it's spin. This smell like spin.

I do NOT believe in 'coincidence' - Mike wrote the truth about lack of air support, which embarrassed those at the top of the food chain, and suddenly his embed was terminated.

Surely the MoD KNEW WELL in advance that a number of journalists needed to be accommodated.

Media Ops usually provides notice to journalists a week in advance of their that their embeds have been approved which begs the questions:

Why was Michael not given -at the minimum -a weeks notice as soon as the Media Ops team KNEW OF and/or APPROVED other embeds.

Had they done that perpahps this ' misunderstanding' could have been avoided.

Media Ops also bears responsibility for interfering with and by fiat, preventing Mike's embed with the US Marines.
An embed that was extremely important to those living in the US with loved ones fighting in AFG.

You owe an apology not only to Michael Yon but also to his loyal readers who are FURIOUS that they won't be able to hear first hand accounts about their loved one serving with the Marines in AFG thanks to the actions of the UK Media Ops team at the time.

Spin this any way you want so you can sleep better, but most of us are too smart to buy what you're selling.

AT LEAST ONE WEEKS ADVANCE NOTICE SHOULD HAVE & COULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO MICHAEL YON.

Since it wasn't and his termination came within hours of his story about the lack of air support--- the evidence speaks for itself - His termination was done purely out of spite, not out of necessity!

[PJ]

I think a majority of Michael Yon's readers want to give the MOD the benefit of the doubt, but it is hard to understand how you could remove one of the only sources for on the ground information without any clearly defined problems.

Clearly something was written that upset certain people, and his embed was abruptly halted. I think the soldiers Yon covered, the families of the soldiers that read his dispatches, and the UK and foriegn public that relied on his reporting deserves answers that have as of yet not been given.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000072300054]

I have followed Michael Yon for a couple of years now. He is passionate, dedicated and honest. He follows the finest military code of honor. He’s the kind of guy even SAS would be proud to own.

Michael has made me proud to be a descendent of the English race with his reporting from 2 rifles. MOD on the other hand has reminded me why we fought the American Revolution.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000072300054]

Before I get burned for the "decedent of the English race" line I should have said British race as my surnames were English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh. I'm a true four square Britt descendant!

[Dave]

Interresting that my last two posts have vanished. I suppose my Yank appreciation for the British soldiers dedication wasn't enough to overcome my disdain for the clueless leadership they work to endure???

[***** ****]

The rub here is that Michael has demonstrated gold-plated, brass-bottomed integrity during his Mideast coverage and for most Yanks the question devolves into a single, simple query: "And who are you, again?"

[***** ****]

The rub here is that Michael has demonstrated gold-plated, brass-bottomed integrity during his Mideast coverage and for most Yanks the question devolves into a single, simple query: "And who are you, again?"