LOGO: Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines. A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman. Winner 2013 Webby Awards for Best Political Website
May 20, 2013

 Choose a size
Text Size

Trending:     chris hedges     economy     elizabeth warren     politics     robert scheer
Most Read

Rise Up or Die

Why Is Tumblr Worth $1.1 Billion to Yahoo?

DOJ Allegedly Spied on Fox News Correspondent, the FBI Investigates Bachmann, and More

College: A Lesson in Inequality

Obama Unscathed by Scandals, Mayor Denies Smoking Crack, and More

Most Comments
Most Emailed

Reports
 * NEW! * It’s News, Not Espionage
 * NEW! * What Will Tighter Restrictions on Trade in Iran Do?

Ear to the Ground

A/V Booth

Arts & Culture
Act of Congress
Daily Rituals
The Girls of Atomic City

Digs

Truthdig Bazaar more items

 
Ear to the Ground

Pentagon Frees Troops to Poke, Tweet and Lip-Sync to Lady Gaga

Email this item Email    Print this item Print    Share this item... Share

Posted on Mar 1, 2010
U.S. Air Force / Senior Airman Wesley Farnsworth

The Department of Defense didn’t have an official policy on what it calls “new/social media”—until now. Starting immediately, DoD employees (including troops) are free to use most of the non-porn Web, from Facebook to YouTube, without worrying about a court-martial. The usual rules on national security still apply.

The Pentagon has had a rocky relationship with social media in the past. As the first YouTube war (or more precisely the first American war begun after the founding of YouTube), the Iraq conflict, and occupation, proved to be an ample supply for sometimes disturbing and/or embarrassing videos and other content generated by soldiers on the ground. That led to a crackdown.

It’s about time troops have access to more of the Internet. Can you imagine? “Go ahead and get online, soldier. Just don’t do anything fun or communicative.” But the Defense Department has created enough loopholes to leave us feeling skeptical. And why, exactly, is porn banned?  —PZS

Sources: DoD, Gizmodo

Read the official policy below:

DTM 09 026
View more documents from Department of Defense.

More Below the Ad

Advertisement


New and Improved Comments

If you have trouble leaving a comment, review this help page. Still having problems? Let us know. If you find yourself moderated, take a moment to review our comment policy.

By gerard, March 1, 2010 at 10:13 am Link to this comment

Oh, wow!  How edifying!  Tweet while the drones slide overhead. Twitter while you kill!  Can’t you just hear the drumbeat? 

Anyway, it’s better than jiving with Jesus, is’nt it?  You aren’t old enough to remember, but once upon a long time ago another war song simulated the gaiety of combat:  “Pack Up Your Troubles in your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile!”  Are we crasy, or what?

Report this
Newsletter

sign up to get updates


 
 
 
 
Join the Liberal Blog Advertising Network
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
© 2013 Truthdig, LLC. All rights reserved.