The "big" military blogs you cite are uniform in their positions: Iraq war is good, opposition to it is treason, conservative politics are the best. Sorry but that is not a good cross section of all the military blogs that are out there.

The Army should just leave well enough alone. Whats going to happen is that the smart guys will figure out ways around it and unless they are prepared to wholesale block IP's-you can be damn sure guys are still going to comment-on both sides of the fence.

What's really amazing to me is how fast cretins like Malkin, blamed this new ban on the Democrats-for trying to pass a bill that reflects the views of 54% of the American people. Its absurd that they can express that. If anything it seems to me the Army would want people criticizing Congress.

Bottom line-Stupid rule enacted by stupid people. Which cannot be enforced.

1. Blogging about fellow soldiers or their chain of command can have serious morale consequences. In Iraq, a fight almost broke out between two female soldiers after one read another's post on My Space.

2. The potential harm to the coalition effort from a soldier writing about his theater experiences is serious compared to any personal satisfaction a soldier may derive or perspective the public may glean from blogging. How can one avoid mentioning standard procedures or the constitution of their equipment when writing a diary? Even if aware of this danger, a quick, careless post after a difficult mission may lead to serious consequences.

A commander can't always rely on a soldier's discretion in these matters, either. Something a soldier may feel is acceptable may, in fact, not be. Remember, some soldiers in Iraq aren't old enough to drink in most states; a second, more mature opinion would aid them in exercising the appropriate level of restraint.

3. Not only operations, but families may be harmed or embarrassed. Does a wife or mother, already under great stress from their loved one's deployment, want to read a post about their family member on a blog? What if a soldier posts about an injury to his buddy and the injured soldier's family, after googling a name, reads it?

4. Soldiers are not reporters (unless you're job, specifically, is to release information to the press). A soldier's job is to execute the war.

5. Lastly, a soldier's opinion isn't necessarily more valuable than a civilian reporter's, although I understand when some, because of the great respect they give to military personnel (rightly, in my opinion), give more credence to a soldier's account than a to a reporter's, As natural a tendency as that is, a soldier's opinion may be as tainted by ideology or personal baggage as that of a civilian reporter.

In summary, in most cases, the proper time to write about one's combat experiences is after direct involvement in the conflict-like in a book.

http://www.nelsonguirado.com/index.php/Military/2…

Inotherwords, some important people know that word is getting out beyond Korea's borders through avenues more than just the international press, and it was that press that had given Korea confidence in its inattention to Korea over the years time and time again.

I wouldn't say the expat blogs, several of whom are by GIs or ex-GIs or those who have the political/social bent to defend the US side of the alliance with vigor, have been the primary or even the 2nd or 3rd or so on most influencial element in the lull in anti-US activity that has been going on for some time now, especially within the Korean media, but I believe its influence (for the better) has clearly been felt in South Korean society.

I think it also has some (growing) affect on things like GI crimes. The more GIs going to the K-blogs and places like USFK Forums, the more are going to hear long-timers and pro-USFK/US expats saying, "Guys, we're on your side. But what the f– is up with these taxi cab incidents!! Are you guys not supposed to be more peer-influenced than civilians? How about telling assholes you know in the ranks to stop being such assholes?" or something similar.

And like GI Korea said, before the personalization of the internet, it was very much an environment in which the US/internatoinal media didn't have much of a clue what went on in Korea beyond Hyundai car sales and USFK's public relations department was less than a mouse……(And it was an environment in which the only time South Koreans worried about their anti-US culture was when it had gotten so out of control, someone in the US press would pay momentary attention to it — and the culture thrived)

Ironically, the reg itself is FOUO (for official use only), and should not be on the net.