Posted on 01/05/2005 7:34:47 AM PST by KMC1
MIL-BLOG SHUT DOWN: A military doctor Maj. Michael Cohen (a doctor with the 67th Combat Support Hospital unit) who is presently serving in Iraq says he was forced to shut down his blog 67cshdocs. According to his website the reason he was ordered to do so was that the information found on the site violated Army regulations.
Cohen had provided a detailed chronicle of the bloody aftermath of the Dec. 21 mess-hall homicide bombing in Mosul that killed 22.
Military blogs have sprouted up throughout the War on Terror and have generally provided a much better account of the war than anything found in traditional media.
Such access however is made possible to anyone who owns a computer and that could now possibly include insurgents trying to decipher information on day to day activities and movements of troops.
"Sometimes a blog might contain subtle nuances from which you can put together a complete picture of our operations, which insurgents can use to attack us," said Lt. Col. Steven Boylan. He also added that he was not aware of any bloggers currently facing court martial or discipline.
"We don't want to impinge upon somebody's free speech. We're out here defending that. But it can cross a line," said Boylan.
Cohen posted this message on his site yesterday...
Dear Family, Friends, Colleagues, Loyal Readers, New Readers, and Everyone else that finds this site interesting,
I have some very unfortunate news. Levels above me have ordered, yes ORDERED, me to shut down this website. They cite that the information contained in these pages violates several Army Regulations. I certainly disagree with this. However, I have made a decision to turn off the site pending further investigation as to whether or not I have violated these Army Regulations.
As many of you can tell from reading the pages within this site, I LOVE being an Army Physician. Nothing gives me greater professional fulfillment than to be able to take care of these courageous men and women who risk their lives fighting for America's freedom.
Additionally, working alongside the brilliant doctors, nurses, medics, and other soldiers like those of the 67th CSH makes me so proud to be an American and a Soldier. A part of me really wants to continue this website to provide our families and friends information about what we are doing here. I have been emotionally overwhelmed with the quantity of supportive emails I have received from people who enjoy reading our site. Give me some time to process this turn of events.
I apologize to anyone that has found this site offensive or inappropriate.
I also apologize to those who have enjoyed reading our posts and now are unable to continue.
Cohen can be reached at: cshcommentary@67cshdocs.com
For what its worth - I believe that Maj. Cohen is handling this action in exactly the right way. If commanders in the field are concerned that nuances of his entries could piece together a puzzle for the insurgents to attack again - then it is important that Dr. Cohen not continue to give out such information.
I have no doubt in my mind that Dr. Cohen wants to do the right thing. After a thorough going over of his site - if the Military deems it possible - I'm also confident that he will be up and posting again.
This is an excerpt, to read more click here...
This guy disagreed with the situation, but he shut down his blog while this issue gets resolved. Seems like he is handling the situation properly. Why are FReepers jumping on him?
So he has a right to his statement but I don't have a right to mine?
You sound like the Dixie Chicks. Nobody is trying to censor you. You're entitled to your opinion, but I can't really see where you're coming from. It's not like this doctor is defying orders. He seems to be approaching this matter properly.
The reason this blog came to someone's attention was because it was featured on C-SPAN. I believe it was during the Washington Journal on the 24th. Brian Lamb usually hosts the WJ on Friday's and he was the host when he talked to Maj Cohen's mother by phone. That's how I learned of the website. I didn't see any problem with what he wrote in his blog, but someone may have objected to his site because he did have pics of many of the other docs with their names. Don't know.
That's right.
You have no right to make any statement.
/s/
And YOU are entitled to your opinion.
Don't 'sir' me, I work for a living!
Now drop and give me 50!
Just the thought!!! AAAAAACCCCCCKKKKKKKK
"what an idiot doctor"
I wonder how many lives the "idiot" has saved? I say cut him some slack. He did shut down the blog as ordered so he can't be that much of an idiot.
Looks as though your WayBack Machine is no match for the guvmint.
It doesn't but what does he know? He's just over there patching up soldiers that are wounded.
I have a friend and co-worker that was called up awhile back. He was getting ready to come off the reserve list after leaving the Army several years ago but he was called up. He established a blog to give a week to week description of his actions while in Iraq. Has been over there for several months and he was in Mosul when this attack happened. I've known this guy for several years and when he left he was excited about going. Very supportive of the decisions made. Reading his notes over the past few months, it's clear to his friends and family that he is questioning it now. Guess some 'conservatives' would think he's a 'Kerry wannabe' and a 'putz' too huh?
Of course, but according to neoconservative groupthink, it's all up to him. He has a clear choice: risk his life, keep his anti-American thoughts to himself and be hailed as a hero, or risk his life, question why and be vilified as a traitorous thug.
Just look at what happened to Col. David Hackworth. He used to be one of FR's most praised heroes. Now, he's one of the site's most hated traitors.
Soldiers can't be human and have their own views, don't you know. He should have just kept his mouth shut about disagreeing with the decision. He needs to know what a real soldier does......shuts up and obeys.
/sarcasm
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