[ajolympian2004]

The Blog of War

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  "Grab it before the Pentagon orders it burned..." - Vanity Fair
  
  "...nonpartisan patriotism is the common thread tying together these reflections, love letters and stories of combat. They make for riveting reading." - The Washington Post
  
  Winner of the 2006 Gold Medal for Anthologies - Military Writer's Society of America
  
  "This collection is an excellent introduction to an emerging form of war reporting." - Booklist
  
  

  "...there is much to tell, and celebrate, in the tough, day-to-day work that our soldiers are doing in one of the most challenging environments any army has ever faced..." - The Philadelphia Inquirer
  
  

  "...the collection is riveting...a worthy tribute." - The American Prospect
  
  

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  Click here for more information and list of blogger/authors
  

[rlmorel]

I have to disagree although I do understand why you and others may feel differently.

The problem, as I see it, is that people are put in a position to self police...and not everyone is sharp enough or conscientious enough to do it appropriately.

To draw a parallel, I work in a hospital, and they have to have a dress code. In the absence of a dress code, people simply push the limit and will wear inappropriate clothing. Sad but true. In young people particularly, it is human nature.

And, as everyone knows, there is no real freedom of speech in the Military. It's just the way it is.

[VeniVidiVici]

The 21st Century version of the Buddy ****ers.

05G. Wonder what they're called now?

[ALOHA RONNIE]

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The Words
http://www.Freerepublic.com/~ALOHARONNIE

The Pictures
http://www.RickRescorla.com/The%20Statue.htm


The Heroics
http://www.ArmchairGeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24361

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[AlaskaErik]

This is why I just keep my mouth shut about what goes on in theater. It's just the best policy.

[Steel Wolf]

This policy is complete nonsense. The military isn't concerned about OPSEC violations, although that's the nominal reason for the policing. In an era where our enemies use Google Earth, have access to dozens of news channels announcing military moves before they happen, and high level U.S. government leaks that go unpunished, the average soldier is not an OPSEC concern. This policy is instead conerned about inappropriate opinions being expressd. They don't want anything embarassing for the military showing up where it can be quoted.

Most soldiers just don't have access to the kind of information that's leaked every day by senior policy makers. The kind that form real OPSEC violations that actually harm our nation's war effort. The few that do are legally responsible for protecting that classified information. As opposed to their civilian counterparts, the military won't just strip their clearance for leaking classified material. They'll send them to Leavenworth.

That said, pretty much every soldier downrange sees fraud, waste and abuse, endures stupid and counterproductive leadership policies, has war stories to share that might be a little off color, or basically has firsthand information that the military would find embarassing.

So, this whole OPSEC concern is a total smokescreen. Only a small number of blogs make true OPSEC violations. It's the 'toeing the party line' violations that are being policed.

[JoeFromSidney]

It sounds like the Army is being too heavy-handed here. We need to find out from the troops themselves the stories the left-wing media won't report.

However, I can understand the OPSEC issue. One time, at MACV Hq in Saigon, I took a picture of a lovely young Vietnamese woman in her ao dai. Unfortunately, there was a classified map on the wall behind her, showing troop dispositions. I was very properly chastised, and was lucky I didn't have my film and camera confiscated. It's easy to make a mistake like that.

Unfortunately, it's easier to block everything than to educate people what not to put in their blogs, and to review them to make sure that the rules are being observed.

[Thunder90]

First things first, the Drive By leftwing media will look at these blogs for any sign of criticism towards higher ups, policy, or other conditions, even if the soldier in question intends no harm. The media will then say "Soldiers are against the war, look at this blog" even if the soldier in question was only questioning tactics or some other small thing. Also, the Drive By leftist media can spin any positive statement about the war by an active duty soldier as the soldier being ordered to make the statement. That damages the military and the administration.


Second...The enemy does look at these blogs.

Third... Soldiers, from what I have heard, are supposed to stay out of politics when on duty. The only statement they are supposed to make is to vote. Blogs are usually politically charged. Also see Point 1 as to why this applies.