where can i find more info. on this .... has anyone heard of this ?
2007-05-22 03:00:21 · 11 answers · asked by love2last 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The US Defence Department has blocked access on its computers to YouTube, MySpace and 11 other websites, severing some of the most popular ties linking US troops to relatives and friends, and depriving soldiers of a favorite diversion from the boredom of overseas duty.
The websites include some of the most popular for social networking and sharing photographs, videos and audio recordings.
Senior officers said on Monday that ban was due to concern that the use of the sites threatened to overwhelm the military's internet network and risk the disclosure of combat-sensitive material. "The idea behind it is to have the bandwidth available to mission-critical areas," a spokesman for US Strategic Command said.
The ban was announced the same day as a former US soldier won a literary award for his internet diary detailing his tour of duty in Iraq. Colby Buzzell won the second annual $US10,000 ($12,000) Lulu Blooker prize for My War: Killing Time in Iraq.
Security or censorship
The videos on youtube that the troops were posting could have had something to do with this.
I am surprised that they did not notice them sooner.
Some were in very poor taste in my opinion.
2007-05-22 03:26:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
not entirely true.. there are certain websites blocked from OFFICIAL GOVERMENT COMPUTERS such as Myspace and open source web based email like yahoo and hotmail.
SM overseas will still be able to send email and visit those sites ..either by accessing a public terminal( and most FOBs have them) or by accessing a public cyber cafe out in town.
They are only cracking down on the use of government computers for personal use.. which, BTW.. is the norm even Stateside. You cannot use work comps for personal use.
2007-05-22 12:38:45 · answer #2 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My husband was online this morning. Your information is faulty.
The ban was placed on blog sites on military computers, because sensitive information was being leaked on a regular basis... often, unintentionally. The military has to do whatever it takes to protect it's mlitary security. However, they have established private internet service for many of the soldiers. There are internet cafes at bigger FOBs, and private internet service to some soldiers (for a fee). My husband pays $75 a month to talk to his family and friends online.
2007-05-22 11:57:59 · answer #3 · answered by DD 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its only certain sites, but as someone else said its a safety precaution. Some troops were being stupid and they would post confidential information about ongoing operations and then the terrorists would get alerted and then they would attack the soldiers. But anyway, I'm pretty sure this came from the higher-ups in the military, not Bush.
2007-05-22 10:22:23 · answer #4 · answered by Kirsten R 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No, Bush had nothing to do with this. This was a decision by the Generals and commanding officers on the ground. It was not a no internet policy. They took away myspace and a few other website where troops had been posting confidential information. This is a precaution to help save American lives.
2007-05-22 10:12:50 · answer #5 · answered by Griggles04 2 · 8⤊ 0⤋
That would kill so much moral over there because I know when I was there that how I talked and kept in contact with my family. I really don't see the President doing something like that. I do know when a soldier gets hurt or killed there is a black out on the phone and internet till the families are reached,
suro
2007-05-22 10:14:30 · answer #6 · answered by suro25 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is only for DOD computers that this ban is in place. People that have their own computers can hook up to the internet at any MWR tent and go wherever they want. The Government can do whatever it wants with its computers, same as any other employer, even if it is really uncool.
2007-05-22 10:36:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No he did not. The Pentagon put a stop to individual soldiers posting blog which could reveal sensitive information. You can cite any news organization, yahoo had it a couple of weeks ago.
2007-05-22 14:10:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
certain sites, like myspace & facebook were only banned and only in the internet cafes. i'm sorry, i can't find an article about it at the moment. but if they pay for their own internet, like my boyfriend who has his own laptop in his room and pays for wireless internet they can still access any sites they wish. the internet cafes are just limiting their internet use.
2007-05-22 10:18:10 · answer #9 · answered by Just Me 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He only cut back on the number of sites they can access. Search for military and internet.
2007-05-22 10:06:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋