DOD Blocking Internet Use — Don’t our troops deserve to have the same freedoms they are fighting for?
Posted by Catherine Morgan on May 14, 2007
DOD Blocking Internet Use — Don’t our troops deserve to have the same freedoms they are fighting for?
Starting Monday, the Defense Department will block access to MySpace, YouTube and a host of other sites on official department computers worldwide, in an effort to boost its network efficiency.
Defense officials said the move is solely a reaction to the heavy drain the streaming video and audio can put on the defense computer network. — read full article
If it is only because of a “drain on the system” – Don’t the troops deserve to have a network set up separately in order to not take away an important freedom and outlet they have had?
In a message to troops from U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. B.B. Bell on Friday, he acknowledged many of the sites being blocked are used by troops to keep in touch with family and friends.
Why is it o.k. for the the military to use these restricted sites to promote the agenda of the military, but not o.k. for the troops to use these same sites to stay in touch with their family and friends?
Ironically, the Defense Department this year had just begun expanding its own use of YouTube to reach a younger, broader audience and show clips of U.S. troops in action. — read full article
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What do you think?
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19 Responses to “DOD Blocking Internet Use — Don’t our troops deserve to have the same freedoms they are fighting for?”
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in2thefray said
Sadly the military has the duty to protect democracy not necessarily enjoy it. There was also recent controversy when DoD went after military blogs. This was due to a real concern of security.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi “In2thefray” — Thanks for the comment. I agree that security needs to be a top priority. However…We can put a man on the moon…Why can’t we set-up an internet system for the troops that is secure? It seems to me we are already taking advantage of these young men and women (with extending tours, and not enough leave) …taking away their one link to their family and friends is just wrong. There is this thing called “morale” that should be taken into consideration.
movingmama said
Catherine, As a military spouse who has been through several deployments… Every soldier has access to an AKO email account to keep in touch with people back home. It is misleading to say they are taking away their one link to family and friends. Additionally, there are cell phones, video linkups through support networks and plain old letters, packages, etc… I appreciate the on-going review of the war but I do feel that there is a tendency to overstate situations such as this and not look at all the facts. MovingMama
MovingMama
opit said
The government of Iraq decided not to allow bomb scene photos to be distributed any more.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi “Movingmama” —
Thanks for your comment. I really don’t mean to be misleading, and I appreciate you pointing out the additional ways the troops are able to stay in contact with their families. I did assume that this discontinuing of some internet access, wasn’t cutting them off altogether. I just feel like they should be getting more opportunities with technology what it is today, not less. But, since I am not “living” this situation as you are, I defer to your opinion on this one.
Thanks again for taking the time to comment.
Catherine.
Catherine Morgan said
Hey “Opit” —
“The government of Iraq decided not to allow bomb scene photos to be distributed any more.”
I have mixed emotions on this one. I have always had strong feelings about disrespecting the dead, especially when media uses pictures of the dead to sensationalize a story that could be told without what seems to me as disrespect. But, at the same time I understand the need for people to “see” the truth.
Does seeing the photos make us more sympathetic to the issue, or harden us too it? I just don’t know.
opit said
The photos make things more immediate. At the least, they would be assumed as contributing to U.S. domestic perception of things going badly. ‘Controlling the message’ is something American trainers would be putting forward – sowing the seeds of destruction of representative government in Iraq ( as if there ever was one ).
Al Maliki is said by some to have ‘ethnic cleansing’ on the brain for when the U.S. gets out of the way – ‘justifying’ U.S. reluctance to leave retroactively.
You may have a point about not disrespecting the dead. Culturally, Iraqis sound more sensitive than Americans on that.
Catherine Morgan said
“Opit” — That’s just my personal feeling on the types of photos you are talking about. I’m just glad I don’t have to be the one to decide on these issues.
Thanks for your comment.
D-day said
Hey Catherine. Thank you for tackling such a tough issue. I’m against censorship of any kind but I do understand the security angle. It was a lot worse in the past, especially during the second world war, and with good reason. Steps were taken to censor GI’s mail.
The downside to this is that the truth doesn’t come out. We all like to assume the benevolence of our nation and people but I’ve become so mistrusting in recent years of our intentions that secrecy of any kind makes me nervous.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi D-day…I know what you mean.
count said
“Don’t the troops deserve to have a network set up separately in order to not take away an important freedom and outlet they have had?”
On one hand you’re all for defunding the war, now you want to hook the troops up with a special network for myspace.
Kinda burnin the candle at both ends a little aren’t you.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Count –
I’m not for “defunding” the war…I’m for ending it and bringing all the troops home. But until that happens…I think we should be doing everything we can to help them stay in touch with their families.
Thanks for the comment.
mirth said
I cheer this post!
Movingmama, you miss one important point:
The pentagon is using one means to recruit while denying the same avenue to servicemembers.
Catherine Morgan said
Hi Mirth –
It’s the do as I say, not as I do policy.
Thanks for the comment.
movingmama said
Mirth, Soldiers can use their personal computers that are not regulated by the DOD rules. At home, this is of course true and they continue posting blogs, accessing YouTube, etc… Depending on where they are overseas, they can pay to access the internet and again access these services via their personal computer. Additionally, wouldn’t you rather DOD network efficiency be focused on providing rapid speed computing for missions so our soldiers can be provided information when they need it instead of the network being clogged by downloading? How is this unlike a company deciding what their employees can access on the Internet when they are at work? Except the work these soldiers are doing is risking their lives, and dissemination of information via computers is vital to their survival.
I think you may be reaching on this one…
movingmama said
D-Day, I acknowledge that for operational security reasons some things can’t be exposed – - is this censorship? Or a way of keeping their peers alive in a war zone???
What is the truth that you feel won’t be revealed by our soldiers not having access to MySpace and YouTube?
ShelbSpeaks said
As much as I would love for our troops to feel right at home over there in Iraq, the truth is, THEY’RE IN IRAQ! It sucks to have certain privilages taken away – quite the tease no doubt, but if it is soley the best interest for internet lines to be open and clear- than thats another price of war. Alls fair.
Curious? Check out Christopher Ruddy
opit said
The latest quip I heard on this was that Powerpoint presentations and videoconferencing were the real bandwidth hogs.
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