In a move that promises to transform one of the final frontiers of new media journalism, the Pentagon has decided to allow everyone from foot soldiers to generals to use Twitter, Facebook, blogs and other social networking tools on the military’s non-classified network.
The decision comes six months after the Marines banned Twitter, a move that caused a bit of a stir in the blogosphere (at the time, we posted this video of uber-blogger Robert Scoble and America’s CTO Aneesh Chopra exchanging opinions on the ban). Military authorities now think the benefits to recruiting, public relations and information exchange outweigh the risks.
Some restrictions apply. The new policy does allow commanders to cut off access temporarily to safeguard a mission or preserve bandwidth.
It's not surprising the DoD was hesitant to give every soldier in the field a virtual megaphone. The potential for intelligence leaks is huge... but the potential for red herrings is just as great, and the intelligence services will certainly be transmitting plenty of false information for enemies to misinterpret.
The benefits include enhanced tactical coordination as well as communication with the civilian population. "Use of Internet-based capabilities, iincluding [social networking services], have become integral tools for operating and collaborating across the DoD and with the general public," the DOD's statement reads.
The move could significantly boost public perception of the military. Under the Bush administration, embedded journalists in the early days of the Iraq offensive seemed to warm to their comrades in the field and mainstream Media seemed abnormally pro-military and pro-war as a result. Talk radio and conservative blogs frequently host troops who lament that positive rebuilding initiatives get less press time than roadside bombs and death tolls. Now military personnel can take the issue into their own handy cams.
Staying more connected to friends and family could also provide some much-needed psychological support.
image credit: US Army Africa
