(13)Back, Again, For Good
As many of you have already figured out, I have returned to The Fourth Rail and am now posting here permanently. I realize I have done a bit of shuffling around the blogosphere of late. This is a new medium, I have been experimenting a bit, and I hope you will understand and forgive me for making it difficult at times to find me. Each time, I have returned here, and I am now here to stay. No more moving.
I am now entirely on my own, and I will be counting on your support for this project to work. Reporting and analysis, coupled with visiting the conflict zones is now my full time job. Please consider hitting the Donate button and support independent reporting and analysis, free of the partisan political atmosphere that dominates and clouds the debate. I plan on embedding in Djibouti sometime in October and then head back to Iraq sometime in the winter. I am still working out the details, and will update you with the information as soon as my plans become clearer. Again, I cannot do this without your support.
I want to thank my good friend Andy Cochran for the opportunity to write the Counterterrorism Blog, which is the premier resource on counterterrorism issues. It is an honor to work with Andy and the experts at the Counterterrorism Blog. I will remain on board to help out with the site behind the scenes. I also want to thank my good friend Marvin Hutchens of ThreatsWatch for upgrading and designing the new look and feel of this site. I couldn't have made the changes without his expert advice and patience.
Best Wishes,
Bill Roggio
READER COMMENTS: "Back, Again, For Good"
Posted by Shawn in Tokyo at September 6, 2006 12:44 PM ET:
I guess it is true that there is nothing better than being your own boss. :-)
Posted by Jim at September 6, 2006 1:42 PM ET:
How are you able to do this for a living and travel to foreign countries?
Posted by Mike at September 6, 2006 3:53 PM ET:
Bill,
I have been reading your work on and off for some time. I have linked to your work on my site (which is mundane and juvenile to compared to the important work you do). I look forward to reading and watching you in the future.
Be safe, tell it like it is, and don't let them get you down.
Semper Fi
therealdealonline@gmail.com
Posted by FrauBudgie at September 6, 2006 4:19 PM ET:
Welcome back!
Posted by sixo at September 6, 2006 6:59 PM ET:
I've been reading you for about 2 years and the times you've gone to a group blog I've followed you there and when you left, I followed you back. And sure all the other guys on those blogs are well credentialed and I get a lot out of their work, but I tend to get more out of your postings. Maybe it's because you stay tightly focused on Iraq or maybe it's because you make an effort to dig in deeper for a unique POV to what's going on over there. Whatever the case, go wherever you need to go, as long as you keep reporting...
I really need to donate.
Posted by ricksamerican at September 6, 2006 9:45 PM ET:
Welcome home, Bill! I can feel the fresh air blowing through the blogosphere all the way to my screen and through it into my lungs.
Posted by victor at September 6, 2006 10:25 PM ET:
I think it was the philosopher Santyana who said....Its amazing how people tend to travel all over the place, but in the end, they always end up from where they first started.
Posted by Charles Bird at September 7, 2006 12:25 AM ET:
Take it for what it's worth, Bill, but I'd rather see you write here AND cross-post as much as possible at CT Blog. CT is a good blog but it's better off with you there. Your post on the Waziri-Paki "truce" is just the sort of thing that should be in both places.
Posted by kafir at September 7, 2006 4:38 AM ET:
Bill, its great you have a dedicated space again, though I think you should definitely post at the CT blog. The only comment I would make about the site is the size of the text - I would make it smaller. Interesting developments are occuring in the blogosphere, with your new site and Robert Spencer's Jihad Watch coming under the umbrella of Front Page. Interested in knowing what prompted you to move back to 4th Rail ... Keep up the good work!
Posted by hamidreza at September 7, 2006 10:50 AM ET:
Great to see you back. I believe I am reading more of your articles now.
Posted by Lorin Friesen at September 7, 2006 5:42 PM ET:
Bill it is always informative to listen/ read to your reporting. I wish all the best for you and any who are independents. It's part of our Declaration isn't it? 1.7 million hits, wow.
Lorin
Posted by tsquare at September 8, 2006 2:32 PM ET:
Welcome back my friend to the show that never ends...
...just be careful out there.
Posted by Justin B at September 12, 2006 4:21 PM ET:
Glad to have you back. I still have the site bookmarked. =) I figured why erase it since you always come back here.
Justin