Comments on: Silencing Military Bloggers

By: Les

Les — Tue, 08 May 2007 23:10:11 +0000

My daughter, who’s in the military (and a milblogger), says operational security IS a valid concern - she has run into it from the other side, on occasion, where someone has posted material that gave away too much information. It’s a fine line. That said, I do think that the new regulations are heavy-handed and will probably be counter-productive.

By the way, I second Peter Porcupine’s recommendation of Michael Yon.

By: Peter Porcupine

Peter Porcupine — Tue, 08 May 2007 21:34:39 +0000

I would add Michael Yon to your list of suggested milbloggers.

By: Lew

Lew — Sat, 05 May 2007 11:12:20 +0000

Having served in the military as a young lad, I can understand why they would want to restrict these types of blogs. The Bush administration is in a quagmire over this war. The military is there in Iraq at the behest of the president. Why does anyone think that the military would tolerate any type of blogging about the war, that would throw a wet blanket over just how well the war is really proceeding forward or backward. They want to control what the American people are being told about Iraq. It’s their job. It’s their obligation to the Commander and Chief. And make no mistake, there is no ” Free Speech ” issue here, because quite frankly there is no free speech when you are a soldier. There is only your duty to your country, and the idea of following orders that are given by a superior officer, weither you agree with them or not. And if you are thinking that this is just posted by a bitter ex-military person, that’s just not the case. All I need to say is the name of Pat Tillman. Unless your living in a third world country, your familiar with the name, the promise of this young man’s career, and the coverup of how he was actually killed by friendly fire. Another example of your good old uncle Sam’s military machine at work.

By: Sammy

Sammy — Sat, 05 May 2007 09:49:02 +0000

Chris, that is an ignorant comparison. Have you been in combat? Have you served in the military? The US Military is not your typical employer. In fact, joining the military is more than a job, it’s a lifestyle.

When you’re dealing with SSN’s, that’s a privacy act issue, not an employer/employee issue.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 04 May 2007 14:39:29 +0000

This appears to be more of an employer/employee issue than a first amendment issue. Bank employees have access to people’s account numbers and SSN’s, should they have the right to email that information home or post it to their blog? Obviously not. Same thing goes for the milbloggers; they are blogging about their job so their employer (i.e. the military) has the right to protect the information going out.

By: Dani

Dani — Fri, 04 May 2007 06:06:56 +0000

I’m so happy you blogged about this Shelly, as it is a serious problem that is nothing but a snowball to more problems. Not only with those members of the military who have no other ties to home, but also with those who wish to speak about what is really happening in the middle east. It compromises no security because a member of the military tells us his perspective of the war. It does, however, compromise how the military would like those in the United States to view the war.

Great post!