Army Internet In Iraq Bans Blogs

I run three blogs and guest blog at Code Red* Women for the Troops.  By way of shameless plug, I have a post up over there about an Army LTC and a speech he gave to some graduating infantrymen.

Aside from this blog, I have two others which are private.

TheURLs look like this: www.violenceworker.com/name_of_blog.

Both are for family or close friends.  One is where my siblings and our Dad post the memories of our family - stories and incidents that we want share with our children and grandchildren and Dad's great grandchildren.  We are so spread out over the country now, it makes it easier to pass on these precious moments.

The other is about one of my grandchildren.  I set it up so we could share pictures of Zoe.  My son-in-law is in Iraq and we thought it would be a good way for him see all the pictures we take of her and my daughter while he is over there. 

The army banned it, or to the point, the army internet in Iraq bans blogs.  I asked my son-in-law to send me an address to write to to get my site off the banned list. I figured it had to do with the word "violence" in the title.  We don't want soldiers reading about violence!  But it really had nothing to do with the name.  They just ban blogs.

The first reply from the Raytheon contract administrator :

I have made an exception to the MNF-I WebSense Policy and opened the URL http://www.violenceworker.com/******** for your son-in-law here at Camp ******

http://www.violenceworker.com/ is still blocked and will not be opened due to MNF-I policy blocking the main site under the WebSense category "Message Boards and Clubs".

I sent a reply back stating that my blog was neither a "message board" or any kind of club and explained what a blog is.  I told him their were lots of blogs by soldiers in Iraq as well and gave an example.  I also indicated that I was pro-military and a retired USAF NCO.

His reply:

  Mr (VW)

I understand your point of view that your site is not a "Message Board" or "club".

The MNF-I WebSense policy is maintained and disseminated downward from Headquarters CENTCOM, and we only have local power to make necessary judgment calls, as the one I made to open for your son-in-law, which allows for specific file or isolated webpage access to CENTCOM MNF-I WebSense filtered sites.

As for http://********.blogspot.com/ that site is also blocked as The WebSense category "Message Boards and Clubs", so while those BLOGS exist they are not being accessed and/or updated via NIPRNET...

I hope this addresses your concerns and request for your son-in-law to be able to utilize the NIPRNET (Unclassified but Sensitive Internet Protocol Router Network) for personal use, during non-duty hours and during non-peak Mission Essential times, as NIPRNET access if provided for those tasks that support the mission here in Iraq...

As you read above, the administrator DID open access to the picture site on my blog and for that I'm grateful.

I understand the principle, it's their bandwidth and they can control it to ensure it's available for their mission.  I'm not asking anyone to get all up in arms over this.  It's more for information than anything else.

If you have a blog, CENTCOM most likely has your blog blocked too. 

VW

 

Comments

[canuckistani]

To me banning blogs is a form of censorship. I think it undermines a way for soldiers to glean information and vent. It just seems stupid. Perhaps if I knew why the Army did so would help me to understand.

[thirdee]

Wow, I had no idea. I don't quite understand but I suppose they have their reasons.

[AubreyJ]

I get through I guess... When SGT was over there I had no problems with getting to him and vice versa.

I know I do get news feeds from CENTCOM every day or so... in which I'm truly grateful to them. They are a big help to me at times.

Hope all goes well with your blogging over there in the future. At least you got a hold of them and that’s a good thing. They are talking back to you!

Funny though... I changed my Blog URL address last week and resubmitted to Blog Explosion. Heck... They turned me down!!! I sent an email back to them a told them I’d been a member with them for over a year now! No answer back from them as of yet.
Oh well...
Take care, VW...
AubreyJ.........