Military Bans Myspace and Youtube to Soldiers

www.cnn.com...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Lt. Daniel Zimmerman, an infantry platoon leader in Iraq, puts a blog on the Internet every now and then "to basically keep my friends and family up to date" back home.

It just got tougher to do that for Zimmerman and a lot of other U.S. soldiers.

No more using the military's computer system to socialize and trade videos on MySpace, YouTube and nine other Web sites, the Pentagon says.

Citing security concerns and technological limits, the Pentagon has cut off access to those sites for personnel using the Defense Department's computer network.

The change limits use of the popular outlets for service members on the front lines, who regularly post videos and journals.

"I put my blog on there and my family reads it," said Zimmerman, 29, a platoon leader with B Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment.

"It scares the crap out of them sometimes," he said.

"I keep it as vague as possible," he said. "I'm pretty responsible about it. It's just basically to tell a little bit about my life over here" he said.

He's regularly at a base where he doesn't have Defense Department access to the Internet, but he has used it when he goes to bigger bases. He'll have to rely on a private account all the time now

Hmm, I know many people who are in Iraq who have myspace sites, though I'm not sure how often they get to update them from over there. I bet they'll be quite mad, as they get tons of moral support from the site.

[edit on 14-5-2007 by asala]

You know, I don't really think videos of people getting shot or blown up need to be posted for anybody with an email address to see, and I'm sure the military feels the same way. Blogs too? Well, I think they need to at least be censorec, but why should the American taxpayer pay for 20 people to read blogs all day, everyday, just to make sure somebody didn't blog before they got debriefed.

Originally posted by Mekanic
You know, I don't really think videos of people getting shot or blown up need to be posted for anybody with an email address to see, and I'm sure the military feels the same way. Blogs too? Well, I think they need to at least be censorec, but why should the American taxpayer pay for 20 people to read blogs all day, everyday, just to make sure somebody didn't blog before they got debriefed.

It's not like anyone is forcing you to watch any of the videos or to look at the blogs they post...they do it to show people what they don't want to see...the truth... Also, they do it for morale because they can talk to their families during the little time they aren't getting shot by the enemy...

"Majority" of american citizen's tend to change the channel when they see the violence that's occuring over in Iraq and Afhganistan...some do because they don't like violence at all...some do because they feel like it's not worth "their time" you know what I'm talking about...that 5 hour window after a long 8-5 work day...between recooperating from work and getting ready for bed to go to work the next day, so they tend to watch something more cheerful being that they see death everyday on the mainstream media...but most do it because they want to live in a world of ignorance and forget that the war is going on at all, and continue on with their lives like nothing has happened in the last 7 years...

Point is...the Choice is yours...if you dont want to watch it...do what the majority tend's to do...change the channel


[edit on 5/14/2007 by UNnoticed]

banning myspace?

myspace can be a great way for soldiers over seas or even here in america to keep in touch with loved ones and friends, why would they want to do this?

because our fearless leaders who DO NOT see combat, and think without them the military would crumble, when in fact their over pampered scum officers who write themselves in for awards for their class a's..who sit in AC or HEAT all day...who have INTERNET at THEIR fingertips anytime they want..who have a phone line for themseleves to call THEIR family anywhere anytime they want...who sit miles from the action in a guarded CP giving orders and putting EVERYONE ELSE in harms way...and now some &*@hole officer/government official decided THEY know whats best for the guys who are already overextended.

Granted soldiers should know what they signed up for and that deployments can go a loooong time...and you adjust...but when our government has the ability to give these soldiers & marines an easy way to keep in touch at home..they should do it. Instead they ask our guys to stay in another country away from famioly and friends for 2-3-4 YEARS, through holidays and birthdays and now they remove this option. If they thought retention was tough before this is one more reason guys will not re-up!!!

And lastly...if their defense is security (aka..release of sensative information) what a load of crap. Its your idiot politicians in the government, loose lip officers, or plain STUPID reporters who are a threat in that department...NOT the soldier in the $&*!

Yes, thats it little minions... make sure the soldiers can't tell the public what is really happening... then make sure the citizens know they are being watched, monitored and recorded, and nobody will have the nerve to stand up, even if they do know something controversial...

Your government now has total control over you... bend over like a good little sheep... theres a good boy. Obey your masters, and they might not send to jail, without letting your family know.


One more step through the line toward the rollercoaster of fachist control, make sure you have your ID card ready for the ride, and disarm yourself of any weapons... are you ready? Should be a pretty bumpy ride.

The ban applies to the DOD computer system, which is more akin to dial up as far as speed goes anyway.

It doesn't apply to any non-DOD vendor provided system, which most soldiers have access to anyway. Or satellite internet systems that individual units contract with on their own (like the system i'm on currently). Though commanders, if they are contracting a private system, can use their own judgement in that regard.

Memos about the change went out in February, and it took effect last week. It does not affect the Internet cafes that soldiers in Iraq use that are not connected to the Defense Department's network.

The cafe sites are run by a private vendor, FUBI (For US By Iraqis).

I also randomly saw one of the 'to catch a predetor' shows and I remember it and Im pretty sure it was on 'prime time' one night with either 2 or 3 of the preditors being diffent men in the military (((( ill look 4 it on u tube and see if I can find it))) - I'm sure that they (our 'government') cant afford to lose any good soldiers, so get rid of any 'main connection' (media connection)

Topic Review
bg_socalif

posted on 15-5-2007 at 04:52 AM
The ban applies to the DOD computer system, which is more akin to dial up as far as speed goes anyway.

It doesn't apply to any non-DOD vendor provided system, which most soldiers have access to anyway. Or satellite internet systems that individual units contract with on their own (like the system i'm on currently). Though commanders, if they are contracting a private system, can use their own judgement in that regard


Did I sight that ok? Anyways, Is that wrong to associate the two? I dont know- (it was just a wandering, thinking moment) This is my 1st real post , in respect to my hours of reading here, and learning so much from such intelligent beings- Glad you're all out there!

I looked on both Utube and Google and found nothing Well,umm, I must admit i am still a lil technologically challenged, so take that into account- But I swear I remember it- They did it 'over the top' with some king of huge stamp saying 'Army, ect.' , and then followed that story with another military member - Plus, I hardley ever make time to watch tv - so this episode sort of stuck with me- Could someone tell me where else I can look? Thanks

bg_socalif..thanks for clarifying that up about only using dod networks.

I was under the impression that it was off limits completely (yes my bad for not reading up more on it).

I'm sure some of you may remember the one website that was forced to be shutdown a while back,it was offering free porn to anyone who was in the military and they posted images of dead Iraqi's.The name escapes me at the moment.

People must face reality though,war is hell,soldiers kill,people die and thats just the name of the game.I am not so sure that this type of stuff should be sugar coated over.

And to think, Congress spent their lovely time discussing China's own sovereign censorship laws instead of the deficit, the war, and other domestic issues... and IRONICALLY the government later censors websites to the men and women who FIGHT for this freedom.

If they are worried about viruses and stuff and the threat is legit, then i dont blame them for banning the sites. National security is way too important to be cirumvented for something like Myspace.com. Folks did just fine without it a few years back.