Stripes letter: Too much info on the web (GlobalSecurity.org)

[lebkuchen]

Too much info on Web

I understand that every soldier should limit what he or she posts on the Web (“Officials: Watch what you post on the Web,” Stars and Stripes, Oct. 1). Could we please answer the question as to why soldiers are being censored and a civilian corporation can post anything it wants on its Web site?

I was very disturbed while surfing the Web to see how much info you could find on the military’s presence in Iraq. GlobalSecurity.org is a civilian-run company. Why is it that a soldier can’t speak vaguely about a mission he went on in his Web log, but GlobalSecurity.org can post maps of Iraq with dining facilities and headquarters buildings pinpointed? GlobalSecurity.org also gives detailed descriptions of the forward operating bases, all the way down to how high the berm is around the perimeter.

It is my understanding that our “higher ups” know about this Web site and still don’t do anything about it. I don’t see why Web logging is such a big deal if GlobalSecurity.org can post where we are located all the way down to which DFACS command groups eat in. Is a soldier’s story about being part of the rebuilding of a country really that big of a security violation when we can’t even trust our own to censor what civilians put on the Web about us? No wonder we lose so many, all the insurgents have to do is get on the Web and we will let them know where we are.

If OPSEC is such a big deal, why are companies like GlobalSecurity.org not being questioned and censored? For my safety, and the safety of my fellow soldiers, I hope this issue is addressed.

Spc. Brandi Allen
Camp Liberty, Iraq

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=32174