Michael Yon, about whom I’ve blogged before here got into a tug of war with the Army over ownership of a photo of an American soldier, Major Bieger, holding Farah, an little Iraqi girl wounded by a car bomb, who later died of her wounds. You can see it here. Since his embed with the Duce Four he has gotten back to Iraq briefly but evidently has had trouble re-embedding. We don’t know the story behind that but reading between the lines it is hard not to think that someone has been putting difficulties in his way. It has been about 3 months since he has been able to report as he wants, embedded with an active unit, and we, his readers, have been waiting patiently for him to sort out his difficulties with the Army. So when this conflict over the picture came out in the open we were ready to intervene. Punditreview appealed for our support and provided a couple of e-mail addresses to whom we could e-mail if so inclined. I was and I did. I’m sure they got a lot of others like it, but in the comments the Punditreview appeal there is a letter from a man with a strong military background that carries a lot more weight than mine. Here is a lengthy excerpt:

I still love our soldiers, and I am so proud of them and the work they are doing on behalf of me and mine and our republic. I know, as you do, that their story is never told well, if at all, and that those who both love the soldier AND speak on their behalf in the media are rare and should be treasured.

I have been privileged to have read Michael Yon�s work, seen his stunning photographs and am proud to have even corresponded with him from time to time (mainly about our shared alma mater and the Florida Gators). I am flabbergasted that the US Army has chosen to make Michael Yon a target for both maltreatment regarding his excellent and award-winning photograph of Major Dave Bieger and Farah, as well as placing obstacles to his return to the Iraqi theater. I am unsure if you have followed Michael�s work, but you will not find a more clear and unambiguous supporter of the soldiers and Marines on duty in Iraq in any publication or medium extant. Michael is an ex-operator, so he doesn’t punch out jingo-istic propaganda, but paints stunningly accurate portraits of the type of men and women you and I both know comprise our armed forces, but whose stories are seldom, if ever, told. His stories of the Deuce-Four were told with such beauty and realism that I found my palms sweating, I was so engrossed.

Sir, I know that I only see this issue from the perspective of those who love and appreciate Michael�s work. There may be another side, but it certainly seems as if the US Army position as I have seen it directly quoted seems very narrowly constructed and gives little acknowledgment to the powerful impact Michael has had praising our armed forces. Frankly, it seems like it was drawn up by some JAG �Garrit-trooper� and endorsed by others of that ilk. Michael has smelled the cordite and camo-stick, on duty and even more amazingly, as a civilian. Why does he undertake such hazardous duty? Because he loves soldiers and wants the world to see them in their powerful glory and in their tender humanity. His picture of Major Bieger was the most moving picture I think I have ever seen. It captures everything that you and I know about the Army, and the story of the people who are in it. Do not deny him the credit for having taken such risks to himself and his family, just to tell that story.

I hope the US Army will reconsider it’s stance on the matter at hand, acknowledge the work as Michael�s and further allow him to return to doing the job few others have the temerity or the talent to do.

Sincerely,

DWP
Knoxville, TN

I’m pretty certain that letter isn’t the only one the good general received from colleagues as opposed to ordinary citizens like myself. What is impressive is the speed with which the conflict was resolved.

DWP tells us that General Brooks’ reply arrived in an hour. Here is the key part:

…it is an important issue to address and as you might imagine it is
complicated. Keep up your support of Michael Yon because he has performed a
great service, to be sure. But keep up your support of the Army you’re a
part of too. We’ll sort this out.

Michael Yon’s blog reported the problem fixed within 2 days of the issue being raised by punditreview and others.

Michael Yon had been so frustrated that he had appealed to his senator, Ted Kennedy of all people, for help with the copyright issue. But the blogsphere got the necessary information to the man with the power and the good sense to ‘sort it out’. A three month old bug in the system got fixed in two days.

The Internet isn’t just fast – as Eric Raymond has pointed out the Cathedral and the Bazaar it actually selects the person best suited to fix the bug or problem at hand. Michael Yon emerged from the blogsphere as the best reporter of how our troops actually fight and deal with war as human beings – the Ernie Pyle of this conflict. They he hit a snag and the man best suited to bring it to the attention of the man who could fix it – General Brooks – turned out to be DWP. My e-mail was passionate, DWP’s was the one that fixed the bug.