Going AWOL Online

Last May, new rules went into effect barring military personnel from accessing 13 popular websites via Department of Defense computers and networks. Included among the banned sites were YouTube and MySpace.

The primary (and somewhat bullsh*t) reason for barring the sites was the DOD’s quest for bandwidth reduction and preservation. This wasn’t horribly inconsistent with previous public messages, because many military personnel spoke of serious strains place on the network from daily communication schedules as well as large data and video transmissions necessary for modern day weapons.

The real reason is that soldiers, civilian contractors, and family members of Army personnel are required to clear any posts to blogs, forums, or message boards with a superior officer before posting the content online. The goal is to prevent content getting online about the Iraqi War, and/or other sensitive information.

Really? Last time I checked, no soldiers were posting sensitive information on their MySpace pages. As a matter of fact, it is media and political douchebags like Scooter Libby and Geraldo Rivera, who seem to be ruining it for everyone else. Scooter and his buddy Carl Rove thought it was their job to out any CIA operative MILF who got in their way, while our good mustache bearing-buddy Geraldo drew convoy plans in the sand, ON CAMERA, after being warned repeatedly.

If Private Joe Blow is sitting in the desert somewhere, wishing he had stayed in college, and decided to post his favorite Iraqi limerick on his MySpace page – you know what dude – GO FOR IT!

I think the Department of Defense should save money monitoring the Army accessing YouTube, and put that money to something more valuable – like Kevlar. Dear DOD – you are dumba**es!

Oh yeah, can I add you to my friend list?