Posted on 08/30/2004 5:55:08 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
Aug. 24, 2004 -- Military officials are cracking down on blogs written by soldiers and Marines in Iraq, saying some of them reveal sensitive information. Critics say it's an attempt to suppress unflattering truths about the U.S. occupation. NPR's Eric Niiler reports.
A blogger with the pen name CBFTW, stationed near Mosul with the First Battallion, 23rd Regiment, says he began his My War Web log to help combat boredom. "I'm just writing about my experiences," the soldier says. "I'm pretty much putting my diary on the Internet -- that's all it is."
CBFTW says he has avoided describing sensitive information, such as U.S. weapons capabilities, weaknesses and scheduling. But earlier this month, CBFTW was lectured by commanders about violating operational security. Two other popular blogs run by soldiers have been shut down recently.
Lt. Col. Paul Hastings, a spokesman for unit CBFTW belongs to, said the soldier's blog now has to be reviewed by his platoon sergeant and a superior officer. In an e-mail to NPR, Hastings said the popularity of blogging has increased the chance that soldiers may inadvertently give away information to Internet-savvy enemies.
But some critics worry that military officials are trying to muffle dissent from troops in the field. "I really think it has much less to do with operational security and classified secrets and more to do with American politics and how the war is seen by a public that is getting increasingly shaky about the overall venture," says Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.
I am troubled by these article. Granted I understand the military's point of view, but, it would seem that there could have been a different solution.
I am interested to hear what others say on this thread, thank you in advance.
They could've put a one week delay on his posts... I doubt he ever had access to orders and planning that extended after one week that also wasn't already public news.
Well the site no longer exists that's for sure.
I can't recall reading anything in there that could be considered "sensitive" information. However I'm not a spook, so maybe there was.
I think that the CO is probably trying to censor the kid and not let him tell his story.
Thats my personal opinion.
The timing is certainly unfortunate. The Iraq situation does look pretty messy right now. Cracking down on the soldier's postings just before the Republican Convention could give the impression that there is a political connection.
I e-mailed CBFTW, and said take notes, keep a journal, I'll be waiting for the book.
A lot of positive comments about the stryker there, too.
Have you ever been in a war zone? The last thing you want is someone reading your mail! How do you think we got Saddam?
ping
The site loads for me:
http://cbftw.blogspot.com/
NPR blindsided this blogger, after giving an interview they posted his families ( I believe it was his mothers address.
Its a shame the soldier has the makings of a very talented writer.
One thing for certain, the blogs from the field sure deviate a lot from the formal reports turned into news stories by the mainstream media. There are those who for their own purposes would keep these sources of information and opinion bottled up, because it conflicts with their own view. Oliver Stone will not have the opportunity to write the (revised) history of this war, as was done with Viet Nam. Too much of the story is out there, now.
One thing is certain, CBFTW is one heck of a writer and will get a movie deal based on the blog when he exits the military.
Pray for him, that he escapes their clutches as they "feel his pain" and exploit him with sweet talk and feigned sympathy while comdemning his fellow Soldiers, appeasing the enemy, and ignoring 911 behind his back.
From what we read here, it did not seem to covey into of a classified nature.
My husband deployed to Iraq and commanded some fine soldiers and the only source for these folks, to use the HQ computer. Anything can be done, as long as it is allowed and meets the concerns of the military organization.
Couple of things:
Blogging from the field is an area that quite simply, the Army frowns upon. It's an OPSEC hole, plain and simple. As an Intelligence soldier myself, I've had to walk on eggshells with some of the things I write about.
It also is a pipeline to the world. And that was NPR's angle, although their agenda was trying to get anti-military sentiment to end-run around the censors. What they were hoping for, were this generation's JF'nK's to start blogging, and throw that up in our faces about dissent being squashed by bigmeannastyHaliburtonIhateBush yada yada yada...
But the angle no one wants to write about, least of all NPR, is that the troops are getting the TRUTH out, doing an end-run around the Leftist media. The good news out of the war zones isn't being reported by the MSM, and the bloggers know it; since the Left can't shut down the Internet yet, there's that danger that the truth might fall into the hands of The American Voter.
Which brings us back to my first thing: the OPSEC violations. We slagged Gerry Rivers of FoxNEWS for it - drawing pics of upcoming ops on live TV, for example. CNN woudl gleefully, if they could, sell our troops' souls along with their own, for interview rights with the enemy. And as enthusiastic and patriotic as the blogger-troops are, loose blabs mean bodies on slabs.
There's a balance to be found, here. Technology has moved beyond cassette tapes and letters; we're now in VM, email, and websites, never to return. As technically savvy as the Army wants to sound, there are a multitude of stubby-pencil officers and NCO's in the command chain, who simply will never trust the Internet or the computer. And from an OPSEC perspective, that can be a good thing.
I am troubled by these article. Granted I understand the military's point of view, but, it would seem that there could have been a different solution.
I am interested to hear what others say on this thread, thank you in advance.
I have no knowledge about the situation. However, "IF" the powers that be were required for one reason or another to shut down a particular site, might be required to shut all down in the appearance of being "fair".
Excellent post and on point. My beloved would write from Iraq and not only did I wait in anticipation so did friends and family. I was married to him and had no clue of his talent writing. His parents know him well and were equally delighted
As soon as finished reading it ... out to everyone. I did not mind sharing because so many cared. The sharing actually has a financial aspect, but, at the time they were my treasures.
Soon I will post them on FR.
I wonder if this problem may have something to do with his blog being shut down? He can't control what readers post.......
please
26 August 2004
If i take something I write off my site, or re-word it, THERE'S PROBABLY A REALLY FU**ING GOOD REASON WHY I DID THAT! Please, dont be the F-ing moron that goes on the comments section and re-posts what I took down or re-worded. thank you.
I did not know that happened with NPR until today, sometimes folks can't leave something alone.
I agree what a waste of talent.
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