![Awesome US Air Force nurse whispers encouragement to Canadian Soldier during flight over Afghanistan. He was blown up and survived with permanent wounds.]()
Awesome US Air Force nurse whispers encouragement to Canadian Soldier during flight over Afghanistan. He was blown up and survived with permanent wounds.
My website has served information from around the world to millions of people.
For eight years, it has always been free. I do not accept advertisements. Ads create backdoors to influence peddling.
My website is under cyber attack and blinks on and off like a strobe. Readers in dozens of countries are being denied access.
We need $20,000 for rebuilding, hosting, and operations of the new website.
![Kopp-Etchells Effect in Sangin, Afghanistan]()
Kopp-Etchells Effect in Sangin, Afghanistan
My work has been seen from Ripley’s Believe it or Not! to the White House. The New York Times reported that I racked up more time embedded with combat units than any journalist. (Though I am a writer, not a journalist.)
![My hundreds of interviews have been seen around the world.]()
My hundreds of interviews have been seen around the world.
![Bullet hits wall above Soldier's head. Soldier on the ground is shot. This was a loud day in Iraq.]()
Bullet hits wall above Soldier's head. Soldier on the ground is shot. This was a loud day in Iraq.
Most of my last decade has been spent in the Middle East and Asia, in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, India, China, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, and more.
Abroad, in many countries, my work is often translated into Russian or Thai, Spanish and Japanese.
Recently, I was requested before the Thai Senate in Bangkok to testify due to my work in Thailand.
![American commander shot (background) and enemy fighter shot in Iraq. The commander survived and became a General. The man who shot him died.]()
American commander shot (background) and enemy fighter shot in Iraq. The commander survived and became a General. The man who shot him died.
In addition to my website, third parties regularly republish my work. I use Facebook and Twitter for small talk, and engage about 80,000 subscribers between those two venues, not including my website and re-pubs.
![British forces saw heavy combat in Afghanistan]()
British forces saw heavy combat in Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a black hole and misapplication of diminishing resources. Few people believed in 2006 that the “good war” was being lost, though it was obvious and I widely published these facts in 2006. Those words made powerful enemies.
We are not militarily defeated in Afghanistan—far from it—yet we are not succeeding at any rate or cost that makes it sustainable or worthwhile.
I am willing to continue to cover combat from up close, but am unwilling to suffer the conditions and take the risks for lost causes. I am finished with that mismanaged war.
![After another terrible car bomb in Iraq. The girl's name was Farah. Farah passed away shortly after this.]()
After another terrible car bomb in Iraq. The girl's name was Farah. Farah passed away shortly after this.
Nothing brings out more courage, honor, honesty, compassion, and flat out lying, sociopathic profiteering, and cruelty, than war.
![British Soldier in tracking school in Brunei.]()
British Soldier in tracking school in Brunei.
At home, Americans are afraid, and are buying guns and ammunition as if they expect a second Civil War. Some espouse that a new civil war is a good idea to “reset America.”
Civil war is a terrible idea.
The thought that war can “reset America” is like the idea of amputating arms and legs as a weight loss strategy.
The tools to fight with are images, ink, and votes. It would be a shame to lose my website at a time when it can be of most value.
![Iraqi Soldiers recovering bodies of murdered children and parents during Iraqi civil war.]()
Iraqi Soldiers recovering bodies of murdered children and parents during Iraqi civil war.
When I write about controversial topics, such as that a war is being mismanaged or lost, my website often comes under cyberattack. Some attacks come from humans. Others seem to come from web-bots. My software is outdated and requires overhaul.
![A websearch of my name hints at the depth and broad range of my work, and the many friends and opponents it has created around the world.]()
A websearch of my name hints at the depth and broad range of my work, and the many friends and opponents it has created around the world.
We must focus on our issues at home. Our failing economy and staggering social and foreign policies are succeeding where no enemy ever has.
But first things first. Important dispatches are waiting to be published while my website is crippled.
![Suicide car bomb strike in Mosul, Iraq]()
Suicide car bomb strike in Mosul, Iraq
I am not offering gifts for donations. This is not about giving away trinkets but doing big, hard work. The payoff is in the product that nobody else delivered in two wars.
Last year, 2012, was the first year since late 2004 that I was not in some war. I will continue to risk life and limb to find truth and lay it before you, without charge, but you must help.
My track record is long: About 800 major dispatches, three books, and at least many hundreds of major interviews reaching millions of people. My fourth book is in progress.
Before I can return to the United States, we will need far more. That is a separate issue. My base will be in San Antonio because it is near Mexico, has great living and work conditions, and I love Texas. I have travelled to 48 states and more than 65 countries, and Texas happens to be one of my favorite places. It is my luck that Texas happens to border Mexico.
![A nice poster someone made comparing me to Ernie Pyle. This is humbling and puts yet more weight on my shoulders.]()
A nice poster someone made comparing me to Ernie Pyle. This is humbling and puts yet more weight on my shoulders.
Many years abroad have helped adjust my view of my country. Today, I see more clearly than ever our bottomless virtues and colossal shenanigans. Both amaze me.
If the United States continues on this trajectory, the world will tremble. The implications for Europe and Asia are staggering. The implications for us are more serious.
When I return to the United States, and see our borders from end to end, and our current problem set, my website will be more important than it has been in recent wars.
![Results of a firefight in Iraq]()
Results of a firefight in Iraq
We are still strong. Friends and predators are watching us weaken.
I bring years of hard international experience and context to bear.
We must get my website working.
$20,000 will get it going.
The more help that comes, the more we can do.
Please help.
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Additional links:
My facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MichaelYonFanPage
I am accustomed to being ambushed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9QyebNbLSU
More combat video from Afghanistan:
http://vimeo.com/31609732
My second book:
http://www.amazon.com/Moment-Truth-Iraq-Greatest-Generation/dp/0980076323
First book:
http://www.amazon.com/Danger-Close-Mike-Yon/dp/B001B3URI0/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361347330&sr=1-3&keywords=danger+close
I spent much time with combat troops, and much time alone in the wars. This image from Afghanistan, and many others, has been seen around the world:
(Note: Some of the above links may not be viewable in Firefox 19.x.x)