Air Force bans sites with 'blog' in the URL

This is despicable. Soldiers toil every day and they may want to relax at night by reading a friend's blog...or catching up with a loved one through a personal website. Banning blogs is just plain inconsiderate on the part of the Air Force, and it shows not only a lack of respect, but a huge amount of cajones -- I can picture soldiers objecting to this curtailing of Net freedom with a rebellion of their own.

This has been going on for quite sometime, actually. Like the article said, it was up to each AF command to decide what content filters were being used.

But I understand WHY it is being done. Trust me, there are some blogs that aren't meant to be seen at work. I know through some connections that sites like DJ still work, but there are folks who abuse the system and have actually caused military operations some significant damage simply by posting information on personal blogs.

As a military member you know going in that you are going to give up certain freedoms. That comes with every job that puts you in the spotlight. I'm sure, David, that there are many lovely things you would want to post and say but as a top person in DJ you have to have some sort of restraint. It's the same with the military. Unfortunately they don't get to read blogs or use them on government computers.

I understand the WHY....but it shouldn't be up to the command! That is as diverse and varied as buddha and hitler as far as content opinions! How fair is that?

I agree with david, these guys may want to catch up with personal family and friends. I do believe that HATE BLOGS and things of that nature should not be allowed.

When I served, before internet priveledges, we couldn't associate with hate groups and blogging helps facilitate hate group agendas.

There are a lot of gray areas in this article. That concerns me.

Good find and the comments are equally as interesting.

First off, the military boys aren't victims here of any great misdeed. They are still able to read legitimate news sources, they are still allowed to e-mail and still allowed to call home.
Blogs are not secure websites and they could be dangerous to national security in three ways 1) they could have hidden downloads on them which opens up back doors, ask the Dead Cow Cult they will be able to tell you 2) they could mention when a troop movement is and 3) they can track where visitors are from using a satellite system, I am sure you have seen them on MySpace. That would be worse than Geraldo drawning battle plans in the sand if it is a covert unit.

On my husband's myspace we kept getting checked out by someone off the coast of Africa. We don't know anyone there, they could have been a terrorist checking his blog for a date when he would leave or come home from Iraq.

I also remember he could only give me a vague impression of when he was comming back from the war. Why? Because if he exposed his troop movement ( which looks like someone did find out) he could be in danger. The night before his departure the base was attacked, and his plane on take off was doing what is called a combat takeoff. They had to maneuver so that they could dodge the AK-47 bullets and Rockets that were being lobbed at them. My husband almost didn't make it home, and I would HATE to think it was because of some stupid blog.

Thank you for giving another view of this situation, one which I don't think most of us think about or even realized, Samantha.

Wow samantha, hadn't even thought of that! thanks for keeping my eyes open. :)