Military Conversations Post ‘Nam
December 8, 2007
There has been some debate regarding the value of military blogs (milblogs), I believe that military blogs serve a vital function. Soldiers use blogging to rally cries of democracy from Iraq where the instilment of democracy is seen by many as smoke screen put forth by an isolated American regime.
Is it good to have an army that questions its orders? I believe the answer to that question is yes. The Internet is giving a voice to those soldiers overseas who for the past 3 wars had only a pen. I believe the more the army can blog about their resentment, the higher the chance they will actualize their dissidence and just go home.
I believe the Iraq war is unjust. I think that soldiers are being used as little pawns in the president’s game of global “nation building” chess. This post will not necessarily win me the hearts and minds of the more military minded, but read on to at least understand my justification. Soldiers can begin to win the hearts and minds of those Americans back home who may have voted for a war they now see exploding in front of them.
People would have had a better idea of the true role of the special advisors sent to Vietnam by Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson if there had been a wifi connection. Perhaps protests would have gained more momentum prior to the draft had there been more stories discussing the political and military conditions on the ground. Had Agent Orange reared its toxic presence through youtube screens across America, perhaps the backlash to Vietnam and the use of chemical warfare would have been felt sooner.
Bloggers in Iraq are able to be the accurate news source when the BBC is nowhere to be found. Live feeds of ground troops show Americans back at home the gore, filth and human tragedy that was not priorly available to the mass public at home.
While some may say that military blogs are harmful, the American people should be informed about the gusto or lack there of, going on overseas. The U.S. military should be allowed to have an ongoing digital conversation with the American public.
