It's May 2007 in Iraq

The US military is blocking troops from using certain websites for sharing photos, video clips and messages.

A memo from General BB Bell, US Forces Korea commander, says use of YouTube, MySpace and 11 other popular sites via US military portals will be blocked.

The US says the use is taking up too much bandwidth and slows down the military's computer system.

But a US Strategic Command spokesman said a "secondary benefit" was to help operational security.

I fully appreciate the emotions that one experiences in Iraq. I also know first hand the bonds between members of the ” brotherhood of the close fight. ” Seeing a fellow trooper killed by a barbaric enemy can spark frustration, anger, and a desire for immediate revenge. As hard as it might be, however, we must not let these emotions lead us—or our comrades in arms—to commit hasty, illegal actions. In the event that we witness or hear of such actions, we must not let our bonds prevent us from speaking up.

Some may argue that we would be more effective if we sanctioned torture or other expedient methods to obtain information from the enemy. They would be wrong. Beyond the basic fact that such actions are illegal, history shows that they also are frequently neither useful nor necessary. Certainly, extreme physical action can make someone “talk;” however, what the individual says may be of questionable value. In fact, our experience in applying the interrogation standards laid out in the Army Field Manual (2-22.3) on Human Intelligence Collector Operations that was published last year shows that the techniques in the manual work effectively and humanely in eliciting information from detainees.

We are, indeed, warriors. We train to kill our enemies. We are engaged in combat, we must pursue the enemy relentlessly, and we must be violent at times. What sets us apart from our enemies in this fight, however, is how we behave. In everything we do, we must observe the standards and values that dictate that we treat noncombatants and detainees with dignity and respect. While we are warriors, we are also all human beings. Stress caused by lengthy deployments and combat is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign that we are human. If you feel such stress, do not hesitate to talk to your chain of command, your chaplain, or a medical expert.

We should use the survey results to renew our commitment to the values and standards that make us who we are and to spur re-examination of these issues. Leaders, in particular, need to discuss these issues with their troopers—and, as always, they need to set the right example and strive to ensure proper conduct. We should never underestimate the importance of good leadership and the difference it can make.

Meantime, as always, remember the dead...because the government doesn't:

At least 146 contract workers were killed in Iraq in the first three months of the year, by far the highest number for any quarter since the war began in March 2003, according to the Labor Department, which processes death and injury claims for those working as United States government contractors in Iraq.

That brings the total number of contractors killed in Iraq to at least 917, along with more than 12,000 wounded in battle or injured on the job, according to government figures and dozens of interviews.

...

Donald E. Tolfree Jr., a trucker from Michigan, was fatally shot in the cab of his vehicle while returning to Camp Anaconda, north of Baghdad, in early February. His daughter, Kristen Martin, 23, said Army officials told her he was shot by an American military guard confused about her father’s assignment. The Army confirms the death is under investigation as a possible friendly-fire episode.

Ms. Martin said she waited three weeks for her father’s body to be returned home, and expressed resentment that dead contractors were treated differently from soldiers who fall in battle.

“If anything happens to the military people, you hear about it right away,” she said in a telephone interview. “Flags get lowered, they get their respect. You don’t hear anything about the contractors.”

Military officials in Washington and Baghdad said that no Pentagon office tracked contractor casualties and that they had no way to confirm or explain the sharp rise in deaths this year.

Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, the top spokesman for the American military in Iraq, declined through an aide to address the matter. “Contractors are out of our lane, and we don’t comment on them,” said the aide, Lt. Matthew Breedlove.

Meantime, this is a good if slightly purply prosed story on Iraqi refugees in Sweden.

There was a good piece on From Our Own Correspondent (download the podcast via Itunes...it is a BBC4 programme) about US soldiers constantly debating how best to balance being friendly and nice to the people and protecting themselves from attack.

"No Pentagon office tracked contractor casualties." That's sick man.

Oh wait I have an idea. Take the office in charge of lying about soldiers (re Tilman etc.) and put them on the case!

Maybe they could track civilian deaths too while they're at it.

i heard there's no accurate (and absolutely not public) account of iraqi deaths because corporate zionist fascists can't reasonably suppress guerrilla rage.

it's fucking terrible how the military switched shit up and all the broke motherfuckers who thought in 2001 and earlier the military was a great way to save a bunch of money and stop living with their parents (a grip of drugged out friends from HS fell into this trap) are basically in for a years-long game of russian roulette. everyone with batshit insane political ideologies should be forced to serve, no one else-- it would feel so good to say fuck the troops.

has anyone seen the great bill moyer's heartwrenching recent journal on iraq lives of troops-- actual semi-jarring images (i'm sure there's worse, which everyone should be forced to see, hell-raiser style). truly tragic.

i still wish i were fit enough to enroll with the SEALS. shit would be ill.

...um, yes. Anyway.

Story of the last couple of days: The secret Iraq documents my 8-year-old found, an at once wryly funny and utterly headspinning tale of just how moronic the CPA was.

This Washington Post story on Arlington further drives the point home about the butcher's bill. At least 75 dead US military this month, well over a thousand Iraqis. And on.

argh
sorry for smoking pot and derailing your thread, ned.
lurking

oh great

all rather predictable and in its own way probably inevitable, of course

Even the names on the headstones sound youthful and vibrant: Megan, Jesse, Heath, Blake. They are names that seem better suited to text messaging -- LOL, BFF -- than to the abbreviated code of the graveyard -- CPL, BSM.

This is verging on terrible and brilliant at the same time. (From the WP Arlington story)

Turkey ups the ante

Visiting Senatorial kabuki, on both sides.