WTF?

[Dr.Phool]

I don't know how true this is, but I just ran across it in a letter to Altercation. Anyone else know anything about this? A friend of mine's daughter is getting shipped back for her THIRD tour. And her mother depends on e-mails to keep her sanity.

http://mediamatters.org/altercation/

Hello, Eric. I've written to you before, over the years. You once published one of my notes.

Earlier today I got an email message from my college-student daughter who has a high school male friend who was recently shipped to Iraq after serving in Korea. My daughter and he have corresponded since he joined, and he has visited our home while on leave, so we know him.

Here is a paste of her email to me:

"Something I thought you MAY ALSO find slightly interesting...... The army is placing a policy that soilders can't send emails without using their id card as a signature and to do this they have to order a usb device and pay for it themselves. They just got a 9 day warning and after that they won't be able to use their gov. email to SEND email. (At least the soilders in Iraq). Isn't that weird --- disturbing???? Ben just sent out a mass email to everyone in his address book explaining it. Thought I'd pass it on.

(end)

Sounds like they're trying to muzzle the troops. Or track whistleblowers.

[madokie]

1. maybe both

[lildreamer316]

2. KICK. Oh, this is bad.

Sounds like we may need a mass effort to buy USB devices, and a place to send them. Eek.

[DaveJ]

3. I don't know... If so...

They are timing this so that it won't come out until after Democrats take control. Then the Republicans will blame it on us.

[peacetalksforall]

4. The first to fill those prisons they're building - our kids. who serve.

[warrens]

5. the former

There have been other stories about new rules about email and regular mail. They're shutting down blogs right and left.

[mmonk]

6. They seem to be trying to put our service people in a

bubble lately. That's a shame because being able to communicate with someone from home can keep them sane and focused and is special to them.

[BrotherBuzz]

15. Or they may be trying to place the public in that bubble...

by attempting to suppress information and news from Iraq, the results are the same. I totally agree with you on the soldiers need to be able to communicate; sane and focused is very, very important.

[DaveJ]

7. Actually....

Signatures are commonly used in network security these days, especially in corporations. Why not in the military?

[Actionmac]

8. they are used to spy

or do you think that it is necessary to protect us from the terrorist... :sarcasm:

[DaveJ]

9. I don't think it's necessary at all...

It's just that government regulated businesses (corporations) are forced to develop strong security procedures due to Sarbanes Oxley compliance regulations. Since the military is known for well being the military this is not that surprising.

[EFerrari]

10. It's simpler. Don bought the company that makes the usb gizmo.

[StrictlyRockers]

11. Double-plus ungood. We should protest this very strongly.

[elehhhhna]

12. Y'all know the soldiers are voting over the internet, right?

"E-Mail Ballots for Military Questioned (no review, scrutiny, or oversight)"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2562823&mesg_id=2562823

[smirkymonkey]

13. K&R

:kick:

[Chulanowa]

14. Part of the goal

I don't see it mentioned often, but this administration has a clear domestic goal to achieve in the middle east - They want to destroy the US military. Not only its reputation, but also its personell. They want to kill them, maim them, break them, demoralize them. They want to reach in and tear apart every aspect of decency left, and throw the remains to the jackals., All that needs to be left are the party loyalists and the bought brass.

This is part of the coup, folks. Much as the Tsar sent dissidents to the front lines of Russia in World War One, Bush is now sending our young - those trained in the use of force and sworn to protect the nation - to their deaths to get them out of the way for he and his cronies.

Nothing in this war has been botched or accidental. Accidents happen, but this... this shit is premeditated.