US Army censors news from soldiers

The post that was quoted here has been removed

It's a nothing to see here story. It only applies to DoD computers and I already explained why. In fact, the article echos the exact reason I explained before.

US central command is among other DOD organizations that routinely take preventative measures to safeguard the chance of spillage of classified information on to unclassified computer networks, even if the source of the information is itself unclassified,” said US army Lt Col Steve Wollman, a spokesman for central command. “One of the purposes for preventing this spillage is to protect Centcom personnel from inadvertently amplifying disclosed but classified information.

“Additionally, classified information is not automatically declassified simply because of unauthorized disclosure,” Wollman continued.

“Classified information is prohibited from specific unclassified networks, even if the information has already been published in unclassified media that are available to the general public, such as online news organizations.”

The post that was quoted here has been removed

My reaction is to the countless occasions people read something about the military and draw wild conclusions based on their preconceived notions. This story has been making rounds on the blogs with ridiculous claims like the Army wants to keep us "uninformed", which is nonsense. Just read the OP and his follow up comments as an example.

It doesn't solely pertain to the Middle East and South Asia. The CENCOM Commander made the choice to block the full site on DOD computers. CENTCOM (like AFRICOM) is one of many Join Commands (meaning the Commanding General has elements from multiple military branches (like Army, Nany, Airforce) under his command.

The US Army as a whole did a partial block of The Guardian UK. The CENTCOM commander is essentially a separate entity, and he chose to block the full site.

This has NOTHING to do with censorship, and everything to do with following regulations and standing operating procedures.

Some employers block porn on their computers. What an impediment of free speech!

Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
My reaction is to the countless occasions people read something about the military and draw wild conclusions based on their preconceived notions. This story has been making rounds on the blogs with ridiculous claims like the Army wants to keep us "uninformed", which is nonsense. Just read the OP and his follow up comments as an example.

It doesn ...[text shortened]... ensorship, and everything to do with following regulations and standing operating procedures.

I know an Iraqi war veteran who was a POW for a short time. He thought Iraq was involved with the 911 event. That is how clueless he was until I set him straight. If you think the military doesn't try to keep their soldiers ignorant you are a fool. Ask a marine why we invaded Iraq. They are stupid pawns just as Kissinger says they are.

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
Some employers block porn on their computers. What an impediment of free speech!

You sound more and more like Whodey. He must be rubbing off on you.

Originally posted by Metal Brain
I know an Iraqi war veteran who was a POW for a short time. He thought Iraq was involved with the 911 event. That is how clueless he was until I set him straight. If you think the military doesn't try to keep their soldiers ignorant you are a fool. Ask a marine why we invaded Iraq. They are stupid pawns just as Kissinger says they are.

That's the best you got? Whatever your profession by laws of probably there has to be many people who believe Iraq was behind 9-11, that 9-11 was an inside job, or any other myth.

"I know an Iraqi war veteran who...." Oh, well dam. You know a guy, that settles the argument then!

There are about 200 people in my Company alone and about 90% of them are Iraq war veterans. Do you really want to play the "I know a guy" game?

Let's play a another game. Post a link and I'll describe its content to you, since, being in the Army means I don't have access.

Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
That's the best you got? Whatever your profession by laws of probably there has to be many people who believe Iraq was behind 9-11, that 9-11 was an inside job, or any other myth.

"I know an Iraqi war veteran who...." Oh, well dam. You know a guy, that settles the argument then!

There are about 200 people in my Company alone and abou ...[text shortened]... nd I'll describe its content to you, since, being in the Army means I don't have access.

You are clearly the one playing games. Duchess already pointed out which soldiers are having links being censored from them and which are not. You are pathetic!

Originally posted by Metal Brain
You are clearly the one playing games. Duchess already pointed out which soldiers are having links being censored from them and which are not. You are pathetic!

And Duchess was wrong. I explained in detail detail how she was wrong, and she hasn't contested it.

ALL of the US Army did at least a partial block of The Guardian UK site. Only CENTCOM did a block of the full site.

Do you have anything substantive you want to add? Because all I've seen so far is fluff.

Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
And Duchess was wrong. I explained in detail detail how she was wrong, and she hasn't contested it.

ALL of the US Army did at least a partial block of The Guardian UK site. Only CENTCOM did a block of the full site.

Do you have anything substantive you want to add? Because all I've seen so far is fluff.

"ALL of the US Army did at least a partial block of The Guardian UK site."

That is all that is needed to show censorship took place. You can say it is not a big deal if you like, but that is just your opinion.

Originally posted by Metal Brain
"ALL of the US Army did at least a partial block of The Guardian UK site."

That is all that is needed to show censorship took place. You can say it is not a big deal if you like, but that is just your opinion.

It's not that they censored that one thing that I contest. It's the wild conclusions that stupid people like you draw from it. Now let's look at facts.

- It is ONLY blocked from DOD computers.

- Unclassified DOD computers are required to block classified content.

- Most Soldiers don't don't even visit The Guardian UK

- Most Soldiers don't use DOD computers to surf the web

- ALL Soldiers have some kind of internet access outside of DOD computer, i.e. iPhones, come computers, internet cafe's.

- The US army encourages its members to keep up with current events, as is evident that at every single promotion board the Soldier will be asked about - and expected to know about current events.

Edit: and oh, yeah

- On DOD computers you can still visit entire swaths of the rest of the internet talking about Prism, from MSNBC, NPR, the Rachael Maddow show, and countless other sources.

Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
It's not that they censored that one thing that I contest. It's the wild conclusions that stupid people like you draw from it. Now let's look at facts.

- It is ONLY blocked from DOD computers.

- Unclassified DOD computers are [b]required to block classified content.

- Most Soldiers don't don't even visit The Guardian UK

- Most So ...[text shortened]... lking about Prism, from MSNBC, NPR, the Rachael Maddow show, and countless other sources.[/b]

"- Most Soldiers don't use DOD computers to surf the web"

Certainly that is the case here in the USA, but what about soldiers stationed in foreign countries?

It is not just the Guardian website either.

http://www.examiner.com/article/us-military-blocks-troops-from-entire-guardian-website

Originally posted by Metal Brain
"- Most Soldiers don't use DOD computers to surf the web"

Certainly that is the case here in the USA, but what about soldiers stationed in foreign countries?

It is not just the Guardian website either.

http://www.examiner.com/article/us-military-blocks-troops-from-entire-guardian-website

The same thing, and I would say even more so. DOD computers used in theatre are being used for more serious business than those at home. The troops overseas can and do accesss the Internet on their PC's via private Internet service companies.

Just face the fact that you were wrong already.

Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
The same thing, and I would say even more so. DOD computers used in theatre are being used for more serious business than those at home. The troops overseas can and do accesss the Internet on their PC's via private Internet service companies.

Just face the fact that you were wrong already.

http://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/05/world/after-the-war-long-series-of-military-decisions-led-to-gulf-war-news-censorship.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm