Small Wars Journal

Spitting Cobra

Sat, 01/16/2010 - 10:01am

Spitting Cobra

by Michael Yon

Download the full article: 

Spitting Cobra

Editor' Note: Michael Yon recently spent some time at FOB Frontenac

with the King of Battle and produced this photo commentary.  The disciples

of Saint Barbara may tout that "long distance is the next best thing to being there,"

but next best is not good enough for a real boots on the ground journalist. 

Michael is out there, and now he's here, too.  We're privileged

to bring you some of Michael's work with his kind permission.  View his

other pieces

here at Small Wars Journal, or take a look at

Spitting Cobra

at Michal Yon Online and consider

supporting

the next dispatch of a truly independent frontline journalist.

Michael Yon is a former Green Beret who has been reporting from Iraq and Afghanistan

since December 2004. No other reporter has spent as much time with combat troops

in these two wars. Michael's dispatches from the frontlines have earned him the

reputation as the premier independent combat journalist of his generation. His work

is published at

Michael Yon Online and has been featured on Good Morning America, The Wall Street

Journal, The New York Times, CNN, ABC, FOX, as well as hundreds of other major media

outlets all around the world.

Download the full article: 

Spitting Cobra

About the Author(s)

Michael Yon is a former Green Beret, native of Winter Haven, Fl. who has been reporting from Iraq and Afghanistan since December 2004.  No other reporter has spent as much time with combat troops in these two wars.  Michael’s dispatches from the frontlines have earned him the reputation as the premier independent combat journalist of his generation.  His work has been featured on “Good Morning America,” The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, ABC, FOX, as well as hundreds of other major media outlets all around the world.

Comments

Jamie Hayes (not verified)

Sat, 01/30/2010 - 10:23am

Agree--- "Harrassment and Interdiction mission" is just a fancy term for unobserved fires---absolutely counterproductive in a COIN campaign, IMHO. Great photos of the redlegs though! Field Artillery has not received a whole lot of press coverage lately, and it is reassuring to see that our guys are still the best in the world at what they do---putting steel on target.

De Oppresso Liber

Anonymous (not verified)

Tue, 01/19/2010 - 11:00am

I noted a caption under one night photo mentioned an H & I mission. Personall, I find these to have always been a waste of ammunition, and may seem further to be antithesis to COIN and stability operations?

Great photos though!

Michael, great article. It's good to know that the capable Cobra Battery is on watch and delivers. Bravo Zulu!

P.S. Also, is great to know that you are filing such worthwhile reports.