Omg! Now they are controlling what our soldiers can write in their blogs!

[jillan]

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0233987620070502?feedType=RSS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army is tightening restrictions on soldiers' blogs and other Web site postings to ensure sensitive information about military operations does not make it onto public forums.

Soldiers in war zones are already subject to restrictions on blogging and public posts. But the Army's new regulation could affect service members who have returned from war zones and started blogs about their combat experiences.

Under a new directive issued in April, soldiers must consult with their immediate supervisor and an officer responsible for what's known within the military as operational security, or OPSEC, for a review of planned publications.

Reviews will be needed for Web site postings, blog postings, discussions on Internet information forums and discussions on Internet message boards, according to the Army directive.

E-mail that will be published in a public forum is also subject to review under the regulation. But Army officers said personal e-mails will not be reviewed, calling that impractical.

more at link

:grr:
Who was that that said "They hate us for our freedoms'??????:grr: :grr: :grr:

[BlooInBloo]

1. Yup. My assumption is that they're committing another atrocity.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. I don't see what the problem is.

This is not uncommon during "times of war."

[Beelzebud]

5. Because these are new restrictions. Funny how they go up as tours are extended...

[Behind the Aegis]

8. I still don't see the problem.

The military is making sure security issues aren't being broadcast all over the world via the internet.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. I don't remember anybody censoring blogs during Vietnam.

They censored intelligence, sure. But nobody ever censored diaries or letters home.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. There were no "blogs" during Vietnam.

As for censoring diaries or letters home, they aren't doing that now.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. Well then there goes your whole point...

about it being not uncommon during times of war.

"As for censoring diaries or letters home, they aren't doing that now."

Didn't the OP just say they were censoring blogs, and then you defended it? Or am I imagining all this?

[Behind the Aegis]

20. You're imagining it.

When I said it was not uncommon during times of war, I was referring to the military censoring "sensitive information."

"Didn't the OP just say they were censoring blogs, and then you defended it?"

Yes, the OP did say they were censoring blogs, which is not the same as censoring private diaries or letters home, which they still are not doing, as they did not during Vietnam (I suppose, I am not really sure).

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. Letters home and letters FROM home

were censored for OpSec during Nam, as they have during every other war.

Diaries were not, but I can bet they are not going to do that with personnal diaries in the field either

By the time any of those may see the light of day any valuable intelligence would be rather stale and not useful.

But blogs can be rather senstive, since they can, inadvertendly mind yuo, give away information that is actually actionable... assuming somebody is raedying them. That is their logic

[Behind the Aegis]

28. I understand the logic.

What I don't understand is the "outrage" by some here.

BTW...thanks for the info about Vietnam. I was aware letters to and from home were censored in prior wars, up to Vietnam, but never saw any information about censorship in regards to this topic about that conflict.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. The outrage comes form people who have no contact

with the military... wether this is right or left is immaterial

People do not understand the first rule of raising that hand and taking the oath... you no longer have the same Constitutional rights as everybody else... funny how that actually translates to multiple militaries around the workd

That also means that when in uniform you don't have a right to an opinion about your civilian leadership, and your "freedom of speech" can and is curtailed regularly for OpSec and other reasons.

It comes from lack of knowledge... truly

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Two points

there were no blogs durign the Nam war, there were no internets either and DARPA was just a glimmer in their eyes

And yes letters home have ALWAYS been censored, no matter what war, whether this is the civil war, WW I, WW II, Korea or Nam, letters were censored

Hell, things have been censored and read by Intelligence and security officers in any military unit in peacetime, what makes you think they will not do it in wartime!

Sheesh, this is what happens when less than 1% of the people in this country have any contact with the military....

[jillan]

15. I wish I could believe that they only reason they are doing this is

to control military secrets.

[Behind the Aegis]

21. I wish I could too.

However, until something "breaks," this is not an uncommon move by the military.

[nashville_brook]

24. i thought we were "bringing democracy" to the ME -- who are we fighting again?

i keep forgetting.

who are we supposed to be killing to bring democracy? what military strategy is being employed? will there be a final Battle For Democracy wherein any disclosure of troop morale would ruin the cause of freedom?

[Behind the Aegis]

29. Do you have point to make in all those questions?

[Beelzebud]

3. And earlier on MSNBC I saw a story about the military uploading video to Youtube....

So...

Censorship for our troops, and the military can now use youtube as a propaganda outlet.

[StarryNite]

19. Yeah, it's okay

if it's their propaganda.

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Two separate isseus

the former is called OpSec, the latter might be a violation of US Law... feel free to contact your congresscritter on the latter

[LynnTheDem]

4. Gotta keep the American sheeple dumbed down by censorship

WHAT was the ONLY NATION on the entire planet who EVER had a majority of sheeple (72%) that thought Iraq was involved in 911?

If the soldiers can't say otherwise, then the bush regime & their rightwingnut mouthpieces can catapult the propaganda that our troops LOVE fighting and dying in Iraq for George W. bUsh's bullshit pack of lies.

Goebels can only be looking on with total envy.

[Beelzebud]

7. I'm afraid you're right...

Goebels would be envious of our propaganda machine.

These guys read 1984 and saw it as a guide book instead of a warning.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. No that was not the troops who did that

the troops were NOT free to say one thing or the other... something about UCMJ

This is OpSec truly and if you cannot get it and see a major conspiracy in this, I can't help you here

They did not start doing this yesterday, they are just tightening rules... that have been there from WORD GO... and actually in EVERY WAR

[cyberpj]

6. But it's ok for the idiot president to show troop position presentations on TV. huh? nt

[cyberpj]

12. Bush betrays troops, reveals positions. Articles and this video are disappearing:

President Bush betrays troops by revealing 24 Bahgdad positions in a press conference. IAVA Vet Paul Rieckhoff comments on Olbermans "Countdown" last Friday about the Tillmann death coverup and this latest act of treason by our President. Comments about the revealed positions happen at 5:25 in the video.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d0e_1177372794

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. ummm... didn't the military review letters to/from home in past wars?

(Honest question) :shrug:

[woodsprite]

23. Yes. Somewhere in my treasure trove of family stuff,

I have one from my uncle who was a tank commander in Germany. Some words, locations, and other phrases are blacked out. It was on a form called V-Mail.

Here's a blurb about it from
http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0800/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0800/stories/0801_0120.html:

The government created "Victory Mail" or "V-Mail." V-Mail letters were microfilmed versions of full size sheets. The condensed letters were an effort to speed the delivery time and allow for more room in overseas shipping.

All mail from military personnel was censored during the war. Officers could censor their own mail; enlisted men had to have their superior officers read their mail for any "sensitive" material -- things that if the letter were intercepted by the enemy would give clues as to location, military strength, and upcoming military engagements.

[liberal N proud]

10. Isn't it starting to sound more and more like Nazi Germany?

Or at the very least Communist Russia

[cyberpj]

14. AND... MSNBC reporting that Military will upload "the good news" in Iraq to YouTube. More propaganda

put out by the Pentagon probably.

[jillan]

18. Trying to win the hearts and minds...of Americans! n/t

[bdamomma]

17. oh, this is so bad. To do this to our troops.

they do not want any dissent whatsoever. I hope * burns in hell.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Ok folks there is this liitle issue of OpSec

and believe it or not, once in uniform your freedoms are gone.

Not defending the army, but know EXACTLY where they are comming from

And if there is ANY troop lost due to a breach of OpSec, they are correct

[madrchsod]

27. i can see where this would be an issue.

personal emails and writing letters won`t be checked. if they started restricting personal emails or letter writing then i would have an issue

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. You sure

My emails to my husband went through a security officer, and his email went through a security officer.

It is called OpSec... and it did not start yesterday either.

Sheehs the level of ignorance is truly astounding.

[Rosemary2205]

34. This is actually old news.

All soldier written communications are subject to being monitored. Yes, emails and letters home too, regardless of what this article may say. Any packages to or from soldiers are more often than not searched that way anything of a sensitive nature can be caught before it goes outside and poses a risk to other soldiers or their families. The purpose is not to censor political discourse -- although I do believe an officer can be courtmarshalled for badmouthing the CIC.