Comments for On DoD blogging policy... and rash subordinates bloggers.

On DoD blogging policy... and rash subordinates bloggers.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:44:56 -0600

Last week I brought up KaboomwarJournal and its... tactical pause. In hindsight, I'd have taken a different approach to how I said what I said, as the conversation didn't quite take the tack I expected.It was a good conversation, though. And one that has spread a bit, over to Cassandra's place, where she elucidates the obvious (her title, not my snark).I don't have a lot to argue with regarding what Cassie said, in fact, it's the subject of this post. And what has Cassie peeved is why I should have written my post differently.Even if they caused someone to call...

Comment from Argent on 2008-07-01

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:34:41 -0600

John the best posts are like this.... Messy.

I'm a believer in freedom but I know that often doesn't really apply in the military which is so ironic as to be depressing. But all extremes have a limit, including freedom.

One could silence talk completely which is the way of the Australian military. Consequences seem to be rooted in civilian unawareness, disdain and hostility towards the military. Add problems having poor avenue for venting and stop lossing. These fester badly and cause quite a bit of morale issues. But it does avoid all the problems of people saying things that others don't want said.

Or you could blog but never talk about anything that rocks anyone's boat internally. Which seems to be what the US system prefers but does not fully practice. So what if this happens? Rock external boats and talk nice? Consequences here? Civilians more informed, internal problems still encouraged to fester. Milblogs end up distrusted as outlets for officially approved views.

At the core I believe in Opsec. I am definitely no lover of secrecy and that relates again to freedom. But there I see reason and it makes sense. But secrecy and silence for the sake of making an appearance of honour?

Hardly. This is like spin politics. In fact there is nothing more dishonourable than faking honour. Cue the deluded dudes who attend marine dinners as a marine they aren't. Honour doesn't build from dishonesty by omission or fakery. A military ought to be so jam packed with honour faking it isn't needed. Because if it isn't honorable the country is screwed. I can understand some countries have Problems but Australia and the US, while there are issues, have plenty of strength to go on.

As I see it these sorts of posts popping up on US milblogs suggests the internal resolution is broken. This could be bad leadership but which leader and it could be other things as well.

All the silence reminds me of the father problem for a teenager. He goes to work he must be doing something because I'm still eating and watching TV. What does he do? Dunno he's not allowed to/interested in telling you/doesn't have time. He loves mum, he plays golf and he snores. On weekends he plays poker with his mates while you play your xbox. Or maybe he has a BBQ with the family.

He worked a long time and retired with a gold watch. Had a heart attack soon after. Nice funeral. He cared for me in his quiet way let me grow up. I love him. I miss him.

10 years later. "Who was your Dad?"

"Dunno."

Comment from Grumpy on 2008-06-30

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:35:17 -0600

John, as I look at your whole series and Cassandra's Blog including all the comments. I start looking at this in following way, There is a large chasm between the civilian and Military worlds. Let me say this very clearly, "This is not a case of one is better than the other, they are both important to the Defense of this Nation. But they both have clearly different mindsets." Civilians, please understand the blogs may allow you to have a virtual visit to the Military. But when you're done, you close your browser and go about your civilian life, this is not true for the others. This a choice under your control. To the Military, THANK YOU, for allowing us to visit your "home". You allow your Family, in the large sense, to share with us. Vets, times change but traditions don't. Yes, somebody can be rotten or petty, but if you do it, who wins?

To everybody, let's work together as we go into the 21st Century.

As always,
Grumpy

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-06-30

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:55:53 -0600

Well, I've been sending the links to LTG Caldwell, OSD, and Big Army PAO...

Comment from Galrahn on 2008-06-30

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:39:32 -0600

My observations so far…

This discussion is very interesting to observe. New media, the milblog evolution, and the medium’s place in the national security discussion are in interesting motion here. While this isn’t the first time we have seen this situation occur to a forward deployed blogger, Lt G has higher visibility and popularity than others in the past because while his content is first person military, his style was compelling from a literary perspective and reached a broader audience.

Military blogs are an evolution, not revolution, and the bumps in the road make the medium stronger, make everyone smarter, and evolves the standards of acceptable content from every perspective. Given the neurons at work over Lt G’s situation; here, Cassandra’s, and elsewhere it is notable Lt G is raising the quality of first person blogging with his error at the same rate he did when he blogged.

The Army, indeed the DoD, should be getting some mileage here, assuming they are paying attention.

Comment from The Armorer on 2008-06-30

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:33:57 -0600

Heh. Really. You say that... to *me*?

Comment from Cassandra on 2008-06-30

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:24:44 -0600

You're a guy - you're supposed to say, "Huh"??? :p

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-06-30

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:39:21 -0600

Eh?

Comment from Cassandra on 2008-06-30

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:34:15 -0600

Well now I wasn't going to post what I wrote this morning...

Now you are making me reconsider :p