Military blackballs websites...

[LadyMod at scam.com]

This came as a response to a message I got this morning from one of my friends fighting in Iraq who used to post a lot on scam.com. It appears that scam.com has been put "off limits" for the military men and women.

"What are they afraid of and who else has been put on the block list?" I asked.

Here is one of the answers.


"Recently, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps blocked all access to commercial e-mail services, such as Yahoo!, Hotmail, America Online and Google, from overseas government computers. The reasons given are security-related, but according to Justin Raimondo, those websites are not the only ones being blocked.

Says Raimondo, "'Government is not reason,'" said George Washington, 'it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.' The fear factor works both ways: the present administration has spent a great deal of time and energy on scaring us half to death with tales of imminent terrorist attacks – especially around election time – but they, in turn, stand in fear of their own subjects, particularly the ones in uniform. That is why the Pentagon is now censoring the Internet, declaring certain Web sites – including those of some major news organizations – off limits to military personnel. Check out this e-mail from a U.S. soldier in Iraq (via Wonkette):

"'Just to let you know, the US Marines have blocked access to 'Wonkette' along with numerous other sites such as personal email (i.e. Yahoo, AT&T, Hotmail, etc), blogs that don't agree with the government point of view, personal websites, and some news organizations. This has taken effect as of the beginning of February. I have no problem with them blocking porn sites (after all it is a government network), but cutting off access to our email and possibly-not-toeing-the-government-line websites is a bit much.'"

"...a bit much" indeed! When I was platoon leader in basic training to become a Woman Marine, I frequently called cadence for the platoon. When I read Raimondo's article, this little ditty popped into my mind for my fellow Jarheads. For you civilians reading this, cadence calls are usually irreverent; many are downright raunchy. This one falls in the first category. Semper Fi, Marines!

We're off to Baghdad and Bush's war...
And just what the hell are we fightin' for?
"It's Iraqi freedom," sez the Man
"But you can toss your own in the can"
Troops sound off, left, right, left, right, left, right,
We're U.S. Marines and first to fight

We're off to Baghdad and Bush's war...
And just what the hell are we dyin' for?
"Spread democracy," sez the Man
But that BS has hit the fan...
Troops sound off, left, right, left, right, left, right,
We're U.S. Marines and first to fight

We're off to Baghdad and Bush's war...
And just who the hell are we fightin' for?
Chickenhawks and Halliburton,too.
Toss Rumsfeld and Cheney in the loo!
Troops sound off, left, right, left, right, left, right,
We're U.S. Marines and first to fight

We're off to Baghdad and Bush's war...
And just what the hell are we fightin' for?
"Censor the Internet," sez the Brass.
The Gyrenes say they can kiss our@$$!
Troops sound off, left, right, left, right, left, right,
We're U.S. Marines and first to fight

We're off to Baghdad and Bush's war...
And just what the hell are we dyin' for?
To those who block our views and our mail,
Angry Jarheads say go straight to hell!
Troops sound off, left, right, left, right, left, right,
We're U.S. Marines and first to fight

Oo-RAH!"

[LadyMod at scam.com]

I'll have to be careful when I answer him as it goes to the us army email box. But I thought I would share the news.


Lady Mod

[Linkster]

Most that I know have obtained their own access through private providers - instead of worrying about using the government wires.
Of course its not much different than what just about every corporation in the US out there does - with their strict sniffing and IT dogs running filters.

[Smurf-Herder]

Yes, they prohibited YouTube, MySpace, Pandora, Photobucket, MTV, Live365, iFilm, StupidVideos, Metacafe, FileCabi, BlackPlanet, Hi5 and 1.fm on GOVERNMENT COMPUTERS; because it's a bandwidth issue on government run networks.

They can do whatever they want on their own computers.

[Moby]

It's interesting but not really a story since it happens in most large institutions.

Move along people.

[Smurf-Herder]

It's interesting but not really a story since it happens in most large institutions.

Move along people.

My sentiments, exactly.

I just wanted to clarify what the propaganda implied.

[Jennifer]

Yea, cause our soldiers should be sending information about troop movements and other things stupid privates let slip over unmonitored channels that the enemy has access too.

That makes sense!


Hey, while we're at it, can we issue camisoles and pumps with our soldier's camouflage? That way they can be matched on the battlefields! And hey, why don't we just take a company of soldiers a day and machine gun them so that the enemy doesn't have to waste their bombs and bullets either? It's ever so much more convenient.


You do realize, of course, that the US Constitution does NOT apply to US Soldiers right? Of course not. None of you have actually served a day in your lives! Anyway, a soldier signs their rights away and agrees to abide by the UCMJ (which gives them their rights back as privileges, but not as rights. A privilege can be taken away at will.)

Guess what, the US Military is not a democracy. It is not freedom. It is socialism. A centralized command issuing items and privileges equally to all. Kinda like what your elected leaders want to institute on a civilian scale, come to think of it.

[LadyMod at scam.com]

Yea, cause our soldiers should be sending information about troop movements and other things stupid privates let slip over unmonitored channels that the enemy has access too.

That makes sense!


Hey, while we're at it, can we issue camisoles and pumps with our soldier's camouflage? That way they can be matched on the battlefields! And hey, why don't we just take a company of soldiers a day and machine gun them so that the enemy doesn't have to waste their bombs and bullets either? It's ever so much more convenient.


You do realize, of course, that the US Constitution does NOT apply to US Soldiers right? Of course not. None of you have actually served a day in your lives! Anyway, a soldier signs their rights away and agrees to abide by the UCMJ (which gives them their rights back as privileges, but not as rights. A privilege can be taken away at will.)

Guess what, the US Military is not a democracy. It is not freedom. It is socialism. A centralized command issuing items and privileges equally to all. Kinda like what your elected leaders want to institute on a civilian scale, come to think of it.

Sheesh! I just wondered.

We weren't in a war when I was of age for the military and women didn't fight in battle. I gave birth to girls, none of whom aspires to be target practice for people who want us out of their country nor for comrades who can't aim worth shit.

I had nothing to go on as to why some sites were off limits.


Lady Mod

[Jennifer]

Well, Ladymod, now you know.

Soldiers in the United States Military do NOT have Free Speech. They do NOT have Free Assembly or Freedom to keep and bear arms or to attend church services or any other freedom given.

Under the UCMJ they have only these rights:

1) The Right to Petition a superior officer for help.
2) The Right to Vote.
3) The Right to disobey an illegal order. (actually they have to disobey it.)
4) The Right to medical treatment.


That's it.

They can be searched at will. Something legal yesterday may not be legal today, even with no notification given of the change. They can be tried twice for the same crime. They have no expectation of privacy. They cannot listen to whatever they want too nor can they say whatever they want too. Etc.

However, in times of peace most, if not all, civil liberties and domestic rights and privileges are accorded to the men and women in uniform out of respect for them as human beings. But in a time of war, the needs of the military super cede the civil liberties of the individual.

Soldiers are made clearly aware of this before they enlist.

[Linkster]

Soldiers are made clearly aware of this before they enlist.

Thats a joke - maybe if you find one honest recruiter out there :lmao2:

You did forget one right - they have the right to redress of greviences through congress

[Jennifer]

No, they don't have the right to redress greivances through congress. They have the right to redress grievances through the Chain of Command, and I pointed that out.


And recruiters are not allowed to escort a potential soldier into MEPS. MEPS is where you are informed of the ramifications of your decision. So yes. Soldiers are made clearly aware of what their decision means.

I know you've never enlisted so didn't know that, so I won't slam you for being ignorant of how the process works. I just want to let you know that the tripe you've been fed is tripe, the facts are different then you have been led to believe.

[LadyMod at scam.com]

Soldiers are made clearly aware of this before they enlist.

I don't think so Jennifer.

When my oldest daughter, now 26, was a senior in highschool she was recruited hard by the Army. She scored very high on the tests and could have gotten just about anything she wanted. I don't remember what the description for it was that she applied for and got but it had something to do with making videos and movies. Things like that. All I remember was that it rarely came up for grabs and the recruiters were jazzed that someone out of their group was going to get it. 6 or 8 year enlistment required, must have gonna given them major kudos to fill it.

But not once in any paperwork or in any discussion did it ever come up that her rights were suspended in these or any areas once she signed the dotted line.

As it turned out she changed her mind and didn't join. But I thought you might like to know that this is not being told to everyone who is recruited. I've talked to a lot of young men just out of the Army or still in and never heard that their rights were limited. You can bet, I'm going to ask some of them now. LOL

Lady Mod

[LadyMod at scam.com]

I know you've never enlisted so didn't know that, so I won't slam you for being ignorant of how the process works. I just want to let you know that the tripe you've been fed is tripe, the facts are different then you have been led to believe.

I think Linkster served in VietNam, or something like that. Doesn't that count as enlisting?

Do draftees get told about these things too? Or are they left completely in the dark?


Lady Mod

[Linkster]

First off they werent called MEPS - they were called AAFES when I went in - and the rights were explained to you after you took the oath - that may have changed now - its been 40 years

Second the redress to congress is covered under DoD Directive 7050.6
"4.1 Members of the Armed Forces shall be free to make a protected communication to:

4.1.1—A Member of Congress
Articles 4.2-4.4- Military members are protected against reprisals for such communication"

I cant provide a link because I am reading it out of my copy - but I can scan it if you like

It is part of the Art 138 - and you are correct that you have to go through your commanding officer first - but if he wont answer or blows you off - you have every right to go to his commanding officer (whomever would be in charge of his NJP) and ask for a redress

[Jennifer]

AAFES:

Army Air Force Exchange Service? You mean you enlisted at the PX? Wow. The rest of us Enlisted at Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)

As for draftees, don't know. We haven't had a draft since the 1960s. Perhaps the law was different then. Now you are brought into a room with an military lawyer and an FBI agent (maybe Dept of Homeland Security Agent now) and informed of all the rights you will have as a soldier and explained that once you sign the line you have 120 days to change your mind. Then they go over your contract line by line to clarify any questions you may have that you did not ask while the Sergeants were around processing you.


As for Linkster, I already said you can petition your chain of command. This includes your civilian chain of command and for the record, you can get an Article 15 for contacting your Congressman/Senator or the President without first notifying your immediate superior officer. You don't have to tell them what you are contacting them about, but you must inform them so that they can expect a phone call from that elected official.

[Linkster]

sorry - AFEES - and I enlisted - not drafted - and no they didnt have any of that when I went in - guess someone must have gotten offended and sued

[Jennifer]

sorry - AFEES - and I enlisted - not drafted - and no they didnt have any of that when I went in - guess someone must have gotten offended and sued


AFEES I'm not familiar with. But a draft was going on, so they probably streamlined the program. Either that, or they became more people friendly in the mid 1990's when I enlisted.

[disrupter]

Yeah, recruiters are rapists in positions of domination over recruits.

Lying cheating at every turn just to fulfill their quotas.

[Jennifer]

Recruiters will give the truth, but not the whole truth. You have to ask.

The guys you sign the contracts with give you every nit gritty detail. They hold nothing back because they are penalized for every soldier that is dishonorably discharged from basic combat training or quits by writing a letter of resignation within the first 120 days.

The guys you sign the contracts with, btw, are civilians. They are usually retired NCOs, but not always. And they are out of the chain of command so they cannot be abused by ranking officers.

[Kinky Jones]

I don't think so Jennifer.

When my oldest daughter, now 26, was a senior in highschool she was recruited hard by the Army. She scored very high on the tests and could have gotten just about anything she wanted. I don't remember what the description for it was that she applied for and got but it had something to do with making videos and movies. Things like that. All I remember was that it rarely came up for grabs and the recruiters were jazzed that someone out of their group was going to get it. 6 or 8 year enlistment required, must have gonna given them major kudos to fill it.

But not once in any paperwork or in any discussion did it ever come up that her rights were suspended in these or any areas once she signed the dotted line.

As it turned out she changed her mind and didn't join. But I thought you might like to know that this is not being told to everyone who is recruited. I've talked to a lot of young men just out of the Army or still in and never heard that their rights were limited. You can bet, I'm going to ask some of them now. LOL

Lady Mod

i got the same thing in high school, i literally had to tell recruiters to go the fuck away so they woudl stop bothering me... then a couple buddies who graduated ahead of me joined the Marines and came back on recruiting duty and i did them a favor by going and talking the the recruiter, and the cycle started once again... it was really nice to see one of the recruiting officers in his dress uniform hanging out at my high school parties drinking beer and stuff with all us underage kids too

then after getting back from Iraq my bro got recruiting duty where I live and man oh man the way they do it is pathetic, making him drive around to anyplace there were people walking around (i was washing my car in my driveway one day in a residential spot and a guy pulls up in a car and says "you ever thought of joining the Army?" i just laughed and told him to stay safe and wished him good luck) and if my bro didnt get enough people he couldnt get off work so we spent lots of time at the bar down the road from the recruitng office... he also said that he wishes he could find his recruiter and beat his ass for lying to him so much :(

[Jennifer]

Then you should sue that one Career Counselor for dereliction of duty. But I highly doubt you are telling the truth.


And recruiters don't tell you anything you dont ask to be told. You have to agree to sign then go through the hell of 2 people trying to talk you out of it for 12 hours (0500-1700 hours) before you are allowed to sign and get your orders to ship.

[Little Red Dog]

And recruiters don't tell you anything you dont ask to be told. You have to agree to sign then go through the hell of 2 people trying to talk you out of it for 12 hours (0500-1700 hours) before you are allowed to sign and get your orders to ship.

That is so blatantly untrue, I don't even know where to start.

Not ONE of the people I know who are currently serving had ANYONE in the military try to talk them out signing up.

I served in the Guard, and I certainly didn't have anyone try to talk me out of it.

You have a rich fantasy life, it seems.

[Linkster]

I served - and actually did a short tour as a recruiter - unless you were coming in under a forced program (like as a reduction in jail sentence etc) I never saw anyone "talked to" for hours on end - the only conversation that happened with recruits - and that included me when I went in - and no I wasnt drafted -you went in and raised your hand for the oath, went over and got your initial classification which just made sure you might get the program your recruiter had mentioned - and then they put you on the bus and then the plane.
Im not sure whats happened recently but I would say that if anyone went through that kind of bull for 8 hours - theyd be running for the hills and would be ridiculous for a recruiter to even attempt.
For that matter even when I worked in the recruiting office, we had a few basic forms for medical history and school - and the recruits had to provide a few things like their HS history or diploma - but that was it for signing any forms.