Michael Yon Comments On The Contrasts Of How The Media Was Treated In Iraq And On How It Is Being Treated In Afgahnistan

A French soldier stands guard during a patrol in the Shamali Plains, some 30 kms north of Kabul, in August 2008. France's defence minister confirmed Monday the existence of a NATO officer's "account" of a deadly ambush of French soldiers last month, after a newspaper cited what it said was a report that said the force was ill-equipped. (AFP/File/Shah Marai)

French and NATO Intentionally Deceiving the Public
-- Michael Yon

Afghanistan

NATO and the French military continue to deny that a secret report exists concerning the loss of ten French soldiers last month in Afghanistan. For the record, I have no intention of publishing any part of the secret report. Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper heavily cited the report, and I merely confirmed that the report does in fact exist, that the newspaper article accurately reflected the contents of the report, and warned that if NATO and the French military maintained their position that the report was either inaccurate or nonexistent, they might find themselves contradicted by its publication. More importantly, the document was handed to me with zero expectation that I would keep it secret. In fact, there seemed to be an expectation that I might publish something, though I did keep it secret, other than to verify the Globe and Mail story.

Below is my original post:

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My Comment: Deceiving the public is the surest war for any military to lose its credibility and respect in the eyes of the public. The problem with NATO being involved is that each country has a "modus operanda" that may conform to their country's policies, but be different with what another country may consider proper. The French way of handling their military news may be OK for them, but it is definitely not OK for Canada or the U.S. (to name a few).