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A Question for Our Readers...

By Dusty (AKA Attila of Argghhh!) on July 22, 2007 | | Comments (6)

I probably won't get a lot of grief from the usual audience if I said two of the most interesting, most accurate and most informative news sources in Iraq and the Middle East are Michael Yon and Michael Totten. The former has as y'all know been embedded with our forces in Iraq for months. The latter just arrived in Iraq with a substantial background in covering other hot spots in the region, most notably Lebanon and Israel.

I you want a taste of journalism-the-way-it-ought-to-be, visit their sites often and hit the tip jar if you can (I do).

Anyway, it occurred to me that if these guys get hurt, they hardly have anything to rely on, treatment-wise, other than what I would expect to be initial triage and evac by MNF-I military assets.

I could be wrong, and God forbid we should ever have to find out, but does anyone have a clue as to what they can expect/what they're "entitled" to? If the answer is, "Not much," I think it's a worthwhile cause to come up with something. Yon, a veteran, could I think have sufficient access to the VA system (shudder) but Totten is and always was a civilian.

To quote a certain colleague, "Just sayin'."

I am fully aware this issue probably falls under the Quixotic category but in any case I would welcome any inputs/ideas.

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6 Comments

By Harvey on July 22, 2007 10:58 AM
No ideas, myself, other than to say I'd gladly join in the blogosphere-wide fundraiser to help cover any medical bills.
 
By Grumpy on July 22, 2007 1:06 PM
Dusty, I'm not sure Yon's situation would be any different than Totten's. Both of these men would be wise to consider the alternatives/risks. The blogosphere would be of limited assistance. Everybody needs to look at many of these issues. What precedents are we setting? For Yon, does he have a relationship with the VA? If so, with whom? Specifically and on paper. Assume NOTHING! Dusty, don't get me wrong, I am not looking down on your question. On the contrary, I believe it to be a very wise question. -Grumpy
 
By kat-missouri on July 22, 2007 3:57 PM
First of all, before they can go there, part of the expense is obtaining life and other insurance. They have to have it to get in country. This is one of those expenses that the larger news agencies were willing to eat at the beginning of the war, but are considered a serious drain on resources. That is one of the reasons (beyond the potential death rate of reporters) that embeds are limited in number and time. It is one of the reasons that "local" stringers are used. They are already there and do not have to show insurance to get in country. They actually live there. How much and what the insurance coverage entails, I cannot say since I've never read a policy, but, if I understand it correctly, there is life, disability and medical insurance. The question would be better asked (if they wish to share it) of Yon and Totten, but I do remember a much earlier post from Yon, when he was first trying to get there, explaining why he needed the initial 10k he was trying to raise. Part of it was for insurance.
 
By Damian on July 22, 2007 8:52 PM
How much and what the insurance coverage entails, I cannot say since I've never read a policy, but, if I understand it correctly, there is life, disability and medical insurance. You're pretty much on target, Kat. And that insurance can cost a couple of grand for just a few weeks - I looked into it specifically for Afghanistan awhile back, and I'd guess it's likely even more for Iraq.
 
By Mike on July 22, 2007 8:55 PM
Dusty, All I can say is, "I've given each of them the equivalent of two weeks take home pay, and would consider it a bargain at twice the price"! MikeD
 
By Richard on July 23, 2007 12:17 AM
John, I've been reading Mike's take since 05. Not alot in the kitty right now, but I'll send what I can where. Where is where? Richard