p2pnet - rss feed: Afghan soldier’s blog ‘monitored’
p2pnet.net News:- “What a stir,” posts Waterloo, Ontario’s, Matt Austin, 21, in Matt in Afghanistan: An undergrad’s life in a very big desert.
The stir is because “operational secrecy “ means White, a sapper at the Kandahar air base since August 15, has to watch what he tells his mother and friends.
Here’s the rest of his post:
Over the past couple days, this blog has been temporarily offline at the request of my higher-ups in the forces. Agreeing with this request, I took the posts offline for the time being and talked with my mom.
“Mom,” I said over MSN Messenger, “I’ve been asked to take my postings offline for a little while as (my higher-ups) deal with blogging in camp.”
My mom didn’t have to say anything, but knowing her my whole life, I knew she would be hurt that I wouldn’t be allowed to post anything for the time being.
“I can have a blog though, mom,” I said to her, “I just need to list it with the Army.”
The Army requires people to list their blogs so that they may keep track of information that may possibly be mission critical. Anything that may jeopardize the mission can’t make it online (for good reason) and anything that would put soldiers lives, or the lives of their friends and family back home, at risk is best kept for the soldiers daily journal. These are secrets even better left in their heads, maybe to be released years later when it is alright to tell people of their stories.
The complication occurs when a soldier attempts to tell his or her story while it is being written. There remains a fine line that cannot be crossed, a line that every soldier is told not to cross but every once and a while lets slip a word or two to his or her loved ones. Sometimes the detail may be specific and the person on the other line may just agree and continue listening, not knowing that what was just said could be critically used by those opposing our work to help these people.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that parents and loved ones at times HATE operational secrecy and wish that they could know where their loved soldier is and what is happening to him or her. For the most part, soldiers are granted the chance to make phone calls home and are allowed online time to check their accounts, e-mail and such. Aside from the ancient (yet curiously romantic) art of writing letters home and to loved ones, these are the options available to troops for those who sit at home, waiting for any indication that everything is ok.
I can only imagine what a mother or wife must feel waiting.
In an earlier post, he says:
Now, the question that many people may be wondering is whether my blogging is being censored by the military.
I’ll say it here -
At no time has the Army attempted to censor my blog and even now it does not censor any writings but instead monitors each addition for mission-specific information. The request to temporarily make my postings unavailable came as I failed to register my blog with the Army and, having failed this, alerted Ottawa that I may be making public information that should remain secret for the protection of our soldiers and the mission.
Pending investigation of this alert, my higher-ups requested that I temporarily remove the postings to preserve OPSEC. There is nothing I want more than the success of this mission and the assistance to the Afghan people. Having studied these people and their culture, their good times and bad, being here with the other soldiers to put a footprint in the sands of history is somthing that we are all proud to take part.
I am very proud to be a part of this mission.
A military spokesman said he couldn’t reveal the objection to Austin’s blog or even confirm it was ordered removed, says The Toronto Star, adding:
“In general, the military has the right to remove any content that puts the safety of personnel or the mission at risk, said Capt. Doug MacNair of Canadian Expeditionary Force Command Headquarters.”
Also See:
Matt in Afghanistan - Mountains and molehills…, August 24, 2006
The Toronto Star - Soldier ordered to stop blogging, August 23, 2006
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August 25th, 2006 at 6:42 am
This has been common practice througout military history…nothing really new here, other than the method of which its posted.
100 years ago, the military censored snail mail deemed mission critical. Today its blogs. 100 years from now it will be holographic images.
Until humans stop fighting wars, which will be never, this policy will never change. I’m sure the Romans and Persians practices the same thing.
August 25th, 2006 at 7:00 am
Th US Military has similar restrictions. Having been an officer in the USAF I took an oath of office that included the statement, “I will support and defend the constitution of the United States of America…” I find it ironic that being in the military requires one to give up some of the rights bestowed by the cherished document that one has sworn to uphold and defend.
–TG
August 25th, 2006 at 11:56 am
“I will support and defend the constitution of the United States of America…”
The constitution sucks and is responsible for slavery, a monopolized political system, lobbies as law makers, imperialism…. and finally King George.
Think about it.
August 25th, 2006 at 6:31 pm
The constitution is also responsible for us being allowed to say what we want, practice what religion we want, not being run by a police state, which even if the current administration has taken away some of our rights, is still a lot free-er (didnt look right with 3 e’s) than some countries. Sure it’s not a perfect political system…but name one thats perfect..
And the constitution was not responsible for slavery…people were…it has been going on for a lot longer than the constitution was around…in fact it…or at least an amendment to it..banned slavery..
August 25th, 2006 at 6:31 pm
The constitution is also responsible for us being allowed to say what we want, practice what religion we want, not being run by a police state, which even if the current administration has taken away some of our rights, is still a lot free-er (didnt look right with 3 e’s) than some countries. Sure it’s not a perfect political system…but name one thats perfect..
And the constitution was not responsible for slavery…people were…it has been going on for a lot longer than the constitution was around…in fact it…or at least an amendment to it..banned slavery..
August 25th, 2006 at 6:31 pm
The constitution is also responsible for us being allowed to say what we want, practice what religion we want, not being run by a police state, which even if the current administration has taken away some of our rights, is still a lot free-er (didnt look right with 3 e’s) than some countries. Sure it’s not a perfect political system…but name one thats perfect..
And the constitution was not responsible for slavery…people were…it has been going on for a lot longer than the constitution was around…in fact it…or at least an amendment to it..banned slavery..