Time has added a new Battleland military blogger to its ranks.
Normally, the addition of a blogger wouldn’t make news, but it’s making news because the blogger, who goes by the name Officer X, is apparently a gay officer currently serving on Active Duty.
In his first post that appeared online yesterday, he writes that he is not completely satisfied with the training process, and says that despite the turmoil it has caused, it’s been no big deal.
I have been given the opportunity to share my firsthand experiences from the inside as I watch the fall of a policy that is undeniably discriminatory. By “not asking” and “not telling," the people repressed by this policy have been robbed of their voice to speak out. As a result, the impact of such a policy doesn't hit close to home for enough families, friends, or coworkers. By blogging here, it is my goal to share the excitement felt by every gay and lesbian service member as this burden of lies, cover stories, and double lives is lifted.
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
(Department of Defense)
Blogger crackdown. The government of Bahrain is arresting anti-government protesters including bloggers.
(Mideast Youth)
Disappointed. According to a story on WUSF Public Media, 50 mothers whose sons and daughters are active duty military were on an invited tour of the White House, but some left disappointed.
(WUSF Public Media)
Remembering a fallen journalist. Journalists Clare Gillis and James Foley who were freed after spending six weeks in Libya under detention, asked people to remember slain South African journalist Anton Hammerl, writes Travis Andersen.
(The Boston Globe)
It's a technique. The Syrian government is cracking down on social media by cutting off electricity and telephone service in places with the most unrest.
(The New York Times)
Egyptian bloggers defiant. According to Evan Hill hundreds of Egyptians have staged an unprecedented show of online defiance against their country's military leadership, taking to their blogs to write at times scathing critiques of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
(Al Jazeera English)
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
Mitch Smith of the Lincoln Journal Star has a wonderful story of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Cory French’s virtual homecoming on Facebook.
After returning home from Afghanistan to an empty house because his family accidentally mixed up his arrival time by 24 hours, the nonprofit group Soldiers' Angels got wind of what happened and Shelle Michaels (well known within the military blogging community) created a Facebook page for him.
Now, hundreds of people have posted “Welcome Home” wishes for French.
According to the story, “French, who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, earned a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and a Bronze Star with Valor during his 12-month tour. Still, he didn't expect much public recognition when he came home.”
While there’s no replacement for a big family welcome home ceremony, it’s the small things like this that still make a big difference.
Read the full story here. And if you’d like to leave a “Welcome Home” message for French, go to http://www.facebook.com/1stLtCoryFrench.
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
(KMOV)
Edwin "Salty" Schultz, a World War II veteran who served with the U.S. Army's 318th Infantry Regiment in Europe, shares his war story with reporter Bob Gross.
(The Times Herald)
A short story that draws a parallel between young men going to war and working down the mines has won a national writing competition.
(Gazette Live)
A lot of news publications in Canada are reporting about Canada's forces responding to messages being posted on the Taliban's Twitter page.
(Montreal Gazette)
Three journalists pledge not to report news regarding the armed forces "which may cause confusion in the streets" in Egypt, reports Sarah El Deeb of the Associated Press.
(Salon)
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
Unfortunately, for people who may come across the Taliban Twitter page including family and friends of those serving in Afghanistan, they might read information that is not only a lie, but would otherwise not be posted by the U.S. military or other forces serving in country due to black-out restrictions.
Because Twitter apparently has no problems with terrorists using its service, it’s forcing others to react.
Now, the Vancouver Sun is reporting that the chief of staff to the general commanding Canada's combat forces has responded to a message posted on the Taliban’s Twitter page claiming it obliterated a Canadian vehicle in the Spin Boldak region.
"Task Force Kandahar does not have forces or equipment in the Spin Boldak region," Lt.-Col. Doug Claggett said Friday. "The announcement that a Canadian tank was destroyed in the Spin Boldak region highlights the lies and propaganda published on the insurgents' website and Twitter page."
Read the full story here.
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
[CENTCOM Blog]
Gates says the Navy SEALs involved in the operation to kill bin Laden are concerned for the safety of their families. "Top Officials Warn Against Leaks in Wake of Bin Laden Raid," writes Sara Sorcher.
[National Journal]
Rick Armon writes that Budweiser is raising money this year for the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides post-secondary scholarships for families of U.S. military killed or disabled while serving the country.
[The Beer Blog]
Amazing find. "A family looking through the loft of their new home in Mount Vernon were surprised to find the diary of a young black soldier who had served in the King's Own Scottish Borderers"
[STV News]
Oops. "Secret Service Employee Accidentally Tweets About 'Blathering' While 'Monitoring' Fox News"
[ABC News]
Tim Kennedy calls out Michael Bisping via Twitter, writes MilitaryTimes.
[MilitaryTimes]
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
I discovered this story here.
A message in the About section of the Facebook page says, “Please leave messages for SPC Zach Schick and his family - thoughts, prayers, and messages of encouragement!”
As Eastern Iowa News points out, the Facebook page has quickly gained 500 supporters.
The latest message, posted earlier today by Zach’s father reads:
Just talked with Dr. Hinkly From Germany he will be the one who is on that will fly with Zach and the other MEN back to Walter Reed Medical Center in DC. Friday as it stands right now they will leave Germany at 1:00 PM Germany time and get into DC about 4:00 - 5:00 DC time. Zach is running low fever but is still in same condition. Dr.... said he would call me from his personal phone once they land in DC. Just great to know they are keeping us posted as well as they do for being the goverment. Julie and I are hoping to be in DC Friday afternoon. Will not know that until around 9:00 Friday morning. I just ask that you all keep praying for ZACH, and the other that were with him and all our troops.
According to the AP, Army Spc. Zack Schick was on foot patrol when he was injured by an explosion in Afghanistan.
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
A few years ago, I made a war documentary called Bad Voodoo’s War from Iraq along with the rest of Bad Voodoo Platoon and filmmaker Deborah Scranton.
Deborah’s first film, The War Tapes, premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival and won Best Documentary Feature. A year later, we were working on Bad Voodoo’s War. A key figure in the film is my friend and Platoon Sergeant Toby Nunn, who was a big part in making it all happen.
Now Deborah is releasing another documentary called Earth Made of Glass on DVD, a film that Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister called "A truly inspirational film!"
I’m a big fan of all of Deborah’s work so I highly recommend this film.
She has amazing an storytelling ability.
Here’s the synopsis of the film:
On August 6th, 2008, against the backdrop of the world's deadliest war in neighboring Eastern Congo, Rwandan President Paul Kagame released a report detailing the French government's hidden role in planning the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Three months later, his closest aide, Rose Kabuye, is arrested by France on charges of terrorism.
Meanwhile, Jean-Pierre Sagahutu, a genocide survivor haunted by his father's unsolved murder, scours the Rwandan countryside on a fifteen-year-search for clues - ultimately finding himself confronted with his darkest desire: being face to face with his father's killer.
As President Kagame fights to free Rose from France and expose the truth about what really happened in Rwanda fifteen years ago, Jean-Pierre journeys to the scene of the crime, and the doorstep of a killer, to uncover the chilling facts behind his father's death. As each relentlessly pursues the truth - with the fate of a family and a country hanging in the balance - they find themselves faced with a choice: to enact vengeance or turn the other cheek...
Despite having never met, the story of a President and an ordinary citizen become inextricably linked in this groundbreaking film. Bound by a deep love of country, an insatiable need for the truth, and a hunger for peace, their struggles will set in motion the rebuilding of a family, a nation, and ultimately the entire African continent. Above all, they will shake the very foundations of what it means to forgive - providing a model for ending hatred and violence throughout the world.
You can watch a preview here and learn all about the film.
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
[Scotsman.com]
Restrepo’s Sebastian Junger remembers photojournalist Tim Hetherington who was killed in Libya in the June edition of Vanity Fair.
[KansasCity.com]
An activist who organized pro-democracy protests in Azerbaijan through the social networking site Facebook has been jailed for evading military service.
[AFP]
Injured veterans share their stories with members of the Lions Club who want to learn more about how to help the men and women who risk their lives overseas.
[KYTX]
Senior Center Veterans Group shares war stories and experiences from their time in World War II.
[Patch]
The subject of HBO’s documentary Burma Soldier, Myo Myint, is a former soldier who gave his adolescent years to the regime, and then later joins the democratic opposition against it.
[Time]
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
The Taliban's Twitter account has grown from less than 400 followers to nearly 6,000 in a week's time as it has received attention from around the world.
The Taliban had followed 12 people up until this week. As of today, the number of people they follow has dropped to 4. One of the people they unfollowed was a military blogger serving as a combat advisor to the Afghan Army.
Twitter has not publicly responded to all the press from what I've seen.
And as far as I can tell from the rules and terms of service, Twitter should be suspending this account.
But instead, the company is busy focusing on blogging about Twitter updates for the Mac and other ventures.
And the company has no problem suspending parody accounts as it did in March like that of @ceoSteveJobs, or imposing suspensions for a variety of other minor rule violations.
All the while, the Taliban continue to tweet messages of violence.
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
[USA Today]
If you've lost a family in a U.S. military conflict past or present, the Journal & Courier wants to help tell your story this Memorial Day if you're willing to share it.
[Journal and Courier]
The Navy is opening its first ever online war game to the public called MMOWGLI (Massively Multiplayer Online Wargame Leveraging the Internet).
[signal news]
Zach Kruse has an entertaining slideshow of the dumbest tweets in sports, including Rashard Mendenhall's Osama bin Laden tweets.
[Bleacher Report]
David Sirota talks about the problem with bin Laden killing games.
[Salon]
China's latest first-person-shooter video game targets U.S. troops, writes David Axe.
[Danger Room]
Jeremy Scahill says Erik Prince is no Indiana Jones after an interview with Vanity Fair in which he said he is going to teach high school.
[The Nation]
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
As you know, personally I’m a big fan of Twitter due to its social media value.
So I often check to see what’s going on with popular Twitter usernames. About a year ago, I wrote about military-related suspended Twitter usernames like @Military and @Army, both of which remain suspended to this day.
It’s a known fact that Twitter will release suspended accounts to the general public like @War, another username that I mentioned in my story that has now been registered. But typically, when a name isn’t available a Suspended page will be displayed with a message that reads:
Hold Up! Sorry, the profile you are trying to view has been suspended.
That’s not the case with @SEALTeam6.
Type in the web address http://twitter.com/sealteam6 and you’ll be taken to a web page (pictured above) with a message stating: “Sorry, that page doesn’t exist!” – which is a little unusual in my experience.
Try and register the username and you'll be told the username has already been taken.
So I have to ask, is Twitter squatting on the username @SEALTeam6?
Does the company have big plans for the popular Navy SEAL Team 6? During the World Cup Twitter did set up a page for news and information, so the company could be working on something. Or is the company holding out for the highest bidder?
SEAL Team 6 is a hot property right now. Only days after the successful killing of Osama bin Laden, Disney applied for trademarks on the elite unit – which some would call trademark squatting.
It’s no guarantee Disney will be granted the trademark, but I’m not a trademark lawyer. What I can say, is that it’s a bit upsetting to see an entertainment company try and register the trademark of a commando unit it has nothing to do with.
Only time will tell what Twitter has planned for @SEALTeam6.
I’ve also written about other Twitter usernames like @Afghanistan, @Pakistan and @Iraq. As of now, all three vanity URLs remain suspended by Twitter.
One Twitter user responded to my message: "Maybe another State Dept Request?"
Another user wrote back to me, in regards as to whether Twitter is reserving the name: "yes! and the less we know about these Brave men the better".
Couldn't agree more, but it's highly doubtful the account (if it were released) would be used for anything but a fan page or for selling commercial merchandise as Disney is planning.
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
[Augusta Free Press]
A 30-year old man arrested for impersonating an Army sergeant and charged with second-degree criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor.
[The Poughkeepsie Journal]
Dave Ornauer writes how U.S. Military officials on Okinawa are using social media to keep base residents informed as the tropical season approaches.
[Stars and Stripes]
Rwandan leader Paul Kagame launches a tirade on Twitter against British journalist Ian Birrell after Birrell called Kagame "despotic and deluded".
[Telegraph]
In this article, Ian Birrell writes about his Twitterspat with Rwandan leader Paul Kagame.
[Guardian]
Dan Gagliasso reviews Ironclad (described by Gagliasso as "Seven Samurai Meets Braveheart"), which premiered at the G.I. Film Festival.
[Big Hollywood]
David Schanzer, Associate Professor of the Practice for Private Policy at Duke University, talks about bin Laden’s notebook.
[Voice of Russia]
Yes, it's true. An Israeli couple has named their third child “Like,” as in the Facebook term.
[The Shmooze]
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
Despite the great strides Alex has made in a short time, that were even recognized by the Washington Post, it appears others may disagree about his effectiveness now that he works for the VA.
Recently, the Federal Times posted a couple of news articles that debate whether Alex Horton's voice is as strong as it was before he started working for the VA.
Personally, I think Alex is doing a fantastic job.
It's clear there is a lot to fix at the VA and he's only been at it for a matter of months, not years. Change, like the change that's needed at the VA, doesn't happen overnight.
Here's what the Federal Times had to say:
In Horton, VA found a capable messenger with street cred among younger vets and the ability to understand and empathize with his audience.
But now that he's part of the system, Horton isn't showing as much fire. His posts are edited by others and some have to be cleared at the highest level of the agency. Knowing more, he's able to explain why a vet might have to tell more than one office that his address has changed, and that is helpful. But missing is the clarity of the message from an outsider's point of view: One change of address form should be enough.
Sometimes understanding why things are as they are is helpful; sometimes, though, it muddies the message.
The value of a free and independent media is that it can and does hold government accountable. When government takes over and gets to control the message, the media is tamed and accountability is lost.
VA deserves plaudits for embracing a critic rather than ignoring him. Many other agencies could learn from that example.
But in hiring Horton, rather than simply making its inner workings more transparent to him, VA may have squelched an important voice that could make its biggest difference from the outside looking in.
Read the full story over at FederalTimes.com.
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
[Haaretz Daily Newspaper]
Though Osama bin Laden wasn't connected to the internet, al-Qaida has been able to build an army of online followers.
[Associated Press]
Vietnam War journalists recently gathered to share their combat photos and war stories, and to pay tribute to the local Vietnamese journalists who worked alongside them.
[The Orange County Register]
Brewers television analyst Bill Schroeder celebrated Military Appreciation Day at Miller Park on Sunday. His son passed up on an opportunity to sign with the Brewers, and instead enlisted in the U.S. Army. He's now serving in Afghanistan.
[MLB]
Tom Engelhardt says the Department of Defense, by turning media reporters into embeds, has created their own version of Stockholm syndrome. The media remains deeply enamored with the U.S. military? Is that such a bad thing?
[Pacific Free Press]
“Flag of My Father” wins Best Narrative Feature at the GI Film Festival in Washington, D.C. “Flag of My Father” was one of 31 films showcased at the film festival held this past week.
[Examiner.com]
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
You may or may not know Retired Army National Guard Sergeant Pete Damon by name, but he has an amazing story of hope. Damon was left a double-amputee after an accident in Iraq in 2003 took both his arms and killed his friend SPC. Paul J Bueche.
The accident occurred when a tire of a Black Hawk helicopter blew apart while it was being inflated.
If Pete Damon’s name sounds familiar, you might remember him as the man who sued Michael Moore for $85 million over a clip that appeared in the film Fahrenheit 9/11, which Damon asserted was used out of context.
Though Damon lost the case against Michael Moore, it’s actually his artwork that has brought him lots of attention, and for good reason, his artwork is amazing.
Damon's artwork has been recognized by many and his story and work have appeared in the Boston Globe, NBC Nightly News, Squidoo, the Boston Herald and other major news publications.
According to the story in the Boston Globe, Damon spent a year at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and taught himself to be a leftie. “Damon was still at the hospital when he taught himself to use the hook to pick up and use a pencil, practicing every night in his room. When he returned home, he started working in pastels. Recently, he attended two workshops for amateur artists and started painting in oil and watercolor,” writes Anna Badkhen.
Damon launched a blog in 2010 called Sgt Damon’s Art where he showcases his work.
In his first post back in September 2010, Damon writes: “Welcome to my blog. My name is Ret. Sgt. Pete Damon. I'm an Iraq war veteran who lost both arms while serving there in Oct. of 2003.Since then I've been painting with oil paint and other media both as a source of therapy and just because I love to do it. I've always been able to draw, but it wasn't until after my injuries that I discovered painting. I've been pretty reclusive over the past few years, so in an effort to let people know what I've been up to I've decided to start blogging.”
This week Damon is auctioning off a painting depicting the World Trade Center [pictured above], which he says, is much like it could have appeared that fateful morning in September of 2001, moments before the terror began. The proceeds of the auction will go to Homes For Our Troops, a non-profit organization.
To bid email dannyowen03 -at- yahoo.com
To contact Pete Damon or check out more of his fascinating artwork, go to his website http://sgtdamonsart.blogspot.com/
Thanks to Kathi for the tip. Kathi discovered Pete Damon after reading about him over at Chuck Z's blog - From my position...On the Way!.
[ 1 comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
[The Daily Star]
Follow the Warrior Games from May 16-21 on Twitter using the hashtag #warriorgames or by following @armyWTC.
[DoD Live]
Twitter and Facebook banned from Israeli army's work computers.
[PressTV]
YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook emerging as important sources of news for Yemen protesters.
[Business Insider]
Rashard Mendenhall, running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers facing consequences over Osama bin Laden tweets.
[International Business Times]
Personal war stories of veterans are too important to forget. Every veteran has a story says Robin Beres.
[Richmond Times-Dispatch]
Chicago Sun-Times reporter wins Pulitzer Prize after embedding with Chicago homicide detectives.
[Tulsa World]
Kevin Jackson explains why the DoD wants Cloud Computing.
[Forbes]
A closer look at Osama bin Laden's diary.
[Time]
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
From my perspective, it’s always good to see websites raise the awareness of how great military bloggers are. So when I stumbled across this contest this morning, I thought I'd share it with Milblogging.com readers.
Here’s a little bit about the contest.
Military life isn't easy on families. While there's travel, adventure, and inspirational acts of bravery and sacrifice, there are also long separations, danger, and the fear of injury and loss. Many parents who blog about military life, whether they're deployed themselves or are partnered with someone who is, originally started blogging to chronicle their children's growth for the absent spouse, but have found their voices sharing amazing stories with all of us about dealing with those separations, and about raising a family under conditions the rest of us can only imagine.
Help us find the Top 25 Military Family Blogs by May 25, 2011 at 5pm PST by voting once every 24 hours for your favorite blog. All votes acquired through bots (or any other unfair voting mechanism), and blogs that do not fit in this category will be removed before the list is finalized.
If you want to throw your hat in the ring, here’s information on what you need to do.
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
For all you hardcore gamers out there, you’re probably pretty psyched to hear about the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 leaks that were revealed.
According to Kotaku: “the game will reshape the landscape of the Call of Duty franchise, bringing an impressive number of eclectic settings, deep multiplayer gaming and a story that ties up nearly all loose ends from previous titles, including the final moments of key figures in the series' history”.
A number of publications are reporting on the news.
But what’s real interesting, as Time reporter Evan Narcisse points out, despite all the hoopla over Facebook’s popularity, Call of Duty boasts more concurrent users than Facebook.
It's not often social networking giant Facebook takes a backseat to anything on the web, but in the case of Call of Duty, gaming comes first.
More at Kotaku.
[ 1 comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
[Big Hollywood]
Reports that a big stash of pornography was found in the Pakistani compound of Osama bin Laden are all over the web.
[FOX News]
Militant groups are connecting online through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.
[Washington Post]
Chinese blogosphere grows, while Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social networking sites are censored.
[Asia Times]
Army Capt. and Bronze Star for Valor recipient Adrian Veseth-Nelson shares his experience with PTSD with DoDLive.
[DoDLive]
Jeanne Sager calls the Obama SEAL doll by Herobuilders a slap in the face to our military.
[The Stir]
The military dog that accompanied the Navy SEALs on the Osama bin Laden raid is getting lots of attention.
[The San Diego Union-Tribune]
Rashard Mendenhall's tweets about Osama bin Laden and 9/11 didn't gain him many friends.
[CBS Sports]
Sixth-graders reenact the First Battle of Manassas.
[Washington Post]
[ Add comment ] | [ 0 trackbacks ] | permalink | Discussion | Digg this | Add to del.icio.us
