DoD Limiting Internet Access

Wired's Danger Room has a link today to William Lind's article Limiting Internet access for U.S. troops plays into enemy hands. Lind asks why DoD blocks "useful sources of information from many reputable institutions, including from some Washington-based think tanks." He writes, "The goal of the Web site blockers, it seems, is to cut American military men off from any views except those of the Department of Defense."

I have written about the DoD's draconian firewalls before, but usually in the context of blogs. Lind is right, though; the DoD bans many reputable organizations as well. When I was flying C-17s I shuttled from base to base around the CENTCOM area of operations, so I had the opportunity to see and compare policies at each base. It was hit or miss whether or not my favorite sites would work. I remember visiting one base where I could not access a single one of my normal news/analysis sites. Even CNN was blocked. God help us if American soldiers have to rely on the Pentagon channel on the Armed Forces Network to get their news.