http://blog.johndmchugh.com Photographer Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:04:27 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en My new film “Obama’s War: Afghanistan’s failing army” is up now on The Guardian’s site.   http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/mar/27/obama-afghanistan-military   Just hours ago, President Obama announced an additional 4,000 US troops for the Afghan War, and their job is to train the Afghan National Army. This comes just weeks after he announced 17,000 extra soldiers for ... http://blog.johndmchugh.com/2009/03/27/obamas-war-afghanistans-failing-army/ The Guardian has just posted my latest film, "Combat Outpost", http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/feb/13/us-military-afghanistan-outpost which was filmed in Oct 2008 in Kunar province in Afghanistan. This is the craziest place I have been in my career, and the month I spent living with US Marines in that hole in the ground was insane. The ... http://blog.johndmchugh.com/2009/02/16/combat-outpost/ Well, it seems like ages since I've even looked at my blog. My project with The Guardian has meant that all my writings/ramblings have been submitted to them rather than here, and can be viewed at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/series/johndmchughdiary However, I have realised that they haven't been using lots of the stuff I've ... http://blog.johndmchugh.com/2008/09/08/multimedia-project-continues-apace/ Well, here I am, back again in the wilds of Afghanistan. This is my third year out here, my third "Fighting Season" but this time, finally, I have a real outlet for all my work. I have been commissioned by The Guardian, www.guardian.co.uk to produce photographs, video, audio-slideshows, and of ... http://blog.johndmchugh.com/2008/04/28/63/ Just a quick note to let you all know I am still alive, and what I have been up to. After that horrible day in November I left Charlie Company, and flew back to Bagram. I spent a week with the Medevac guys who picked me up off the battlefield ... http://blog.johndmchugh.com/2008/02/21/a-quick-update/ 23rd Nov   Some days I fucking hate this job! The memorial service for Capt Boris and Sgt Hike, the two US Cavalry troopers that were killed by the IED on 12 Nov, was held a few hours ago. I have never seen or photographed one of these events, and I am ... http://blog.johndmchugh.com/2007/12/27/farewell-to-capt-boris-and-sgt-hike/ 20th Nov   Another day hanging around at Bermel. The simple fact is that the soldiers here are recovering from a long mission, and while they recuperate and refit I must kick my heels a while. So when I heard that the “Scouts” were going to be zeroing their weapons out at ... http://blog.johndmchugh.com/2007/12/12/the-road-to-hell/ 15th Nov   After I went to sleep last night 1SG made a different kind of war, this time a blue on blue, and he won. We would not be required to back-track the movement we made yesterday after all. Instead, we left Sharana, and started out for Orgun-E. The plan was ... http://blog.johndmchugh.com/2007/12/08/no-athiests-in-foxholes-or-humvees/ 14th Nov   Travelling in this country really sucks some days, and today was certainly up there in the top 10. Rising and packing before sun-up, I was breakfasted early and ready for the move back in to Spina. The plan was for Charlie Company to provide security while the Civil Affairs ... http://blog.johndmchugh.com/2007/12/02/over-the-mountains-and-far-away/ 13th Nov   Finally the news came through about yesterday’s attack. The IED had been huge, flipping the heavily armoured Humvee into the air. The Anvil Troop Commander, Captain David Boris, and his gunner Sergeant Adrian Hike, had been killed. An interpreter travelling with them had also died, while the driver had ... http://blog.johndmchugh.com/2007/11/30/a-change-of-plan/