Guest Authors

This site gets much traffic from all around the world, from people searching for news from Iraq, making it an ideal place to host stories from deployed forces in harm’s way. In my travels I’ve met many budding writers who are now wearing boots and carrying rifles, and I found their stories so compelling that I want the world to see.

In Brief: Next Steps in the War in Afghanistan? Issues for Congress

Written by Congressional Research Service

19 June 2012

r42137-1

Add comment

Implosion of the MilBlogs: Glimmers of Hope

18 June 2012

Amid the sea of milblog riffraff are a few islands of hope. Hershel Smith is one of those islands:

Why I Am A Milblogger
Written By: Herschel Smith

Occasionally I receive a note from someone or read something that confirms my hard work as a Milblogger and gives me the energy to move forward. That recently happened, but more on that in a moment. I began blogging (and arbitrarily selected a name for my blog) just before my youngest son entered the U.S. Marine Corps. But after my son’s decision, I began to focus on different things than politics. I have recently taken to writing about guns, second amendment rights, the militarization of police tactics, the Southern border with Mexico and other things. But I will always write about the military in one form or another.

It has been a rocky road. The Milblogger community is a rough bunch, easily drawn into a fight. So am I, I guess. I cannot even begin to share the obscenities and ugly names I have been called in both comments and e-mail (some of it over my interactions with and support of Michael Yon), or share the accusations or charges that have been leveled against me (from “stolen valor” because of the name of my blog given that my son served but I didn’t, to violating OPSEC due to my work on trying to change the ROE). The contact page currently doesn’t work, causing the ugliness to abate a bit. I have had physical threats (not that I am concerned about those), and one exchange of e-mail with a prominent blogger and writer that to this day, after 32 years in business and industry and 53 years living remains the most bizarre, strange, inexplicable and indiscernible exchange with anyone over anything in my entire life. I finally inquired into whether the individual had been consuming alcohol, and shared the notes with friend Joshua Foust (to which Foust recommended giving this individual a wide berth).

Add comment

The Generals: Thomas E Ricks

Written by Thomas Ricks

Ricks-1

Add comment

Free Burma Rangers REPORT: 29 May 2012

Written by Free Burma Rangers

Strong Military Presence Remains in Karen State, while Burma Army continues with Attacks, Resupplies and Increased Troops

Karen State, Burma
29 May, 2012
Written by: Free Burma Rangers

In This Report:

In Mergui/Tavoy District, Burma Army soldiers shoot at civilians while maintaining a military presence throughout the district.
In Mu Traw District, violence, ammunition resupplies and troop movement continue.
In Kler Lwee Htoo District (Nyaunglebin) District, troop movement continues with over 12 battalions in the area.
In Taw Oo (Toungoo) District, incidents of violence continue between the Burma Army and Karen National Liberation Army.
In Doo Play Ya District, FBR team treats patients on a recent relief mission while Burma Army unites remain present in the region.

kser-doh-medic-treating-villager-1000 K'ser Doh Medic treating villager in Mergui Tavoy District