CORRECTION:
I spoke to a journalist-colleague earlier today who expressed some doubts that the Army would blocking of casualty sites actual policy (rather than leave the call to individual units). So I called Capt. Karns, the Centcom spokesman I had spoken to last week. He said I had misconstrued his earlier statements. (He had written earlier: "If a web site is not an official DoD web site or if it is not required to perform official government functions it can be blocked. In this case, it is important to ensure consistency and accuracy when dealing with causalities.")
While the sites were blocked at some local levels (as are other some other unrelated, sites), Capt. Karns said there is "no policy on casualty sites. The only policy is that sites allowed not be offensive in nature." Implementing that guideline is left to the “discretion of installation commanders.”
My apologies to Capt. Karns--and to readers.
====
Last week, I received an email from a marine in Iraq who said his network was blocking him from visiting icasualties.org, a site that compiles casualty figures for Americans Iraq, as well as CNN’s page on servicemembers killed in the war. That was the second time I’d read of the military censoring a casualty-related site. Memoryhole.org, the site that first showed photos of flag-draped coffins being shipped back from Iraq, said in June that one of its readers had a similar experience. GIs trying to visit that site were greeted with:
Access Denied (content_filter_denied)Your request was denied because of its content categorization: "Extreme;Politics/Religion"
I assumed this wasn’t policy, but rather an overzealous sys-admin with too much time on his hands. I was wrong. An Army spokesman has now explained to me that it is indeed the Army’s intention to block service-members from viewing non-Pentagon casualty sites. (Other services apparently have similar policies and do use filtering software.) Captain Chris Karns, a spokesman with Centcom, explained:
If a web site is not an official DoD web site or if it is not required to perform official government functions it can be blocked. In this case, it is important to ensure consistency and accuracy when dealing with causalities.The Armed Forces takes great care to ensure whenever there is a casualty the family receives the information first. Non-DoD sites reporting casualty figures can lead to inaccurate information being distributed. [Note: I've put Capt. Karns’ full response is the previous post.]
Karns’ concerns are understandable—and irrelevant: Icasualties.org and CNN compile their figures from the Pentagon’s own press releases. Nor are names attached to them—unless it’s a link to a previously published article. And even if the problem did exist, isn’t the purported solution just a wee heavy-handed?
P.S. To its credit, the military has started to do the job it once left to icasualties.org: It now posts daily casualty tallies.
UPDATE
Since most people seem to be accessing this post directly, here's some further detail from other posts:
In case it's not already clear, there are other sites blocked besides casualty count sites. Karns goes into more detail in another email: "Certain sites are blocked if access is not required to perform the individuals official duties. Components may be more strict if they deem it appropriate." When I asked what qualifies as an appropriate site, he said, "If it’s tied in to be able to have a greater understanding of world events and it’s a legitimate news source than chances are service-members will have a chance of seeing it." Of course, as I mentioned, icasualties.org and CNN rely on the Pentagon's own announcements. In fact, icasualties.org does such a thorough job that active duty officers have written in praising it.
DoD's daily casualty tallies are nothing new. They have had them available for months now. For example, GlobalSecurity.org keeps an archive of them going back to November 2003.
Posted by: anonymous | September 18, 2004 at 07:22 PM
Hi; Perhaps of interest:
I compile this weekly datasheet on military fatalities. http://www.dissidentvoice.org/DeRooij_Iraq-Coalition-Toll.htm
About two weeks ago my access to DefenseLink was blocked, and now I must use another account to view that website...
Kind rgds
Paul
Posted by: Paul de Rooij | September 20, 2004 at 11:50 AM
Please note that there are 43 casualties from South Carolina listed on our website, which is more than the 29 listed on http://icasualties.org/oif/ByState.aspx website. We are searching info. to learn if there are more SC citizens that have died from wounds in hospitals.
Posted by: Ann Ashley | July 14, 2005 at 12:57 AM
I would like to know the names of the military casualties from Montana since 9/11 2002.
Posted by: Betty Babcock | May 20, 2007 at 03:26 PM
If you want do delete your site from our spam bases - just email us with domain of your site:
abuse-here@inbox.ru
thank you!
Posted by: Alexqwn | October 02, 2007 at 10:13 PM
I'm not sure what the hold-up is... maybe they have re-thought their stance on how this is going to actually make the company any money. Or perhaps their lawyers pointed out the liability of providing agents a platform to stick their feet in their mouth. Whatever it is, it's hardly something I'd claim as being "Well done".
www.jebshouse.com
Posted by: Jeb Simons | April 24, 2008 at 06:40 PM
This is Nice information Need to Know more
Posted by: how to pass a drug test | November 04, 2009 at 04:44 AM
Refuse Experiment,theatre language instead potential last study particularly aim exercise season hall high leaf capital school reveal revenue order team sun significance operate block revolution afternoon deep pain because award there democratic extremely strange closely contain as religion hit establish direction practical representation below grey amount address to die dress joint hotel indeed contact where yes size properly usual form want offer press example detail examine actual debate suitable environment threaten amount via desire little creation works important enter near establish decision objective safety such
Posted by: Entiregeneral | December 06, 2009 at 03:02 AM
u really have a smooth way to deliver information, thanks for the clear efforts ur making.
Posted by: ClubPenguinCheats | August 07, 2010 at 04:42 AM
That's like saying who has commitments to its company, and should ignore family or social responsibilities.and we,too.that's good for us to strong ourselves.now support my website,link my name,some new products are showing for you.
Posted by: Air Jordan Flight 9 | September 27, 2010 at 05:50 AM
A song poetry lapland, until now also cannot forget: "the kid's desire is the wind, the thought is the length of the youth.
Posted by: jordan 21 | October 13, 2010 at 04:33 AM
It's no use crying over spilt milk./What's done cannot be undone.
Posted by: cheap supra tk society | November 03, 2010 at 03:27 AM
Is a complete pleasure to have the opportunity to express my opinion in an article as interesting as this, I think this is a small beginning for future generations have a very good example of what is the correct way to publish an article, many Thank you for sharing this information, congratulations!
Posted by: Impotence causes | November 09, 2010 at 01:36 PM
A very warm greeting to all readers, thank you very much for allowing us to express ourselves in her blog, I am a complete pleasure to have the opportunity to have such a fabulous read an article like this, I think the world should do more awareness about what our children read on the Internet, issues like in this article are those who can create in the young a better neurological performance.
Posted by: Cheap viagra | November 12, 2010 at 11:28 AM
Could you give me some advice on learning English?
Posted by: air jordan shoes | November 14, 2010 at 10:04 PM
I would like to appreciate the great work done by You
Please continue posting like this
Posted by: Generic Cialis | November 24, 2010 at 04:49 AM
Is this real? It is really alarming to know that the military are taking militant actions. I do hope they could resolve this.
Posted by: stretch mark removal | November 25, 2010 at 10:02 PM
This issue is quite interesting. The block thing I guess has been uplifted already. You got a follow up update on this? 'tis a bit outdated here.
Posted by: remove moles | December 18, 2010 at 10:26 PM
Why would they do this? Is this their area of responsibility too? Dominating net influences also?
Posted by: skin tags | January 17, 2011 at 01:59 AM
Hi!!! Actually I do regularly follow all your articles and read them with great interest, but of late I have been missing on them and I wish to catch on them again… How can that be done… is there any other way of searching for your articles…
Posted by: Kamagra | January 28, 2011 at 06:40 AM
I'm not sure what the hold-up is... maybe they have re-thought their stance on how this is going to actually make the company any money. Or perhaps their lawyers pointed out the liability of providing agents a platform to stick their feet in their mouth. Whatever it is, it's hardly something I'd claim as being "Well done".
Posted by: how to win the lottery | March 02, 2011 at 03:59 AM
In my opinion these are right actions because there are a lot of illegible information in the internet. It's time to create internet POLICE and also internet special forces.
Posted by: how to copy games | March 02, 2011 at 02:26 PM
About two weeks ago my access to DefenseLink was blocked, and now I must use another account to view that website...
Posted by: detox diet | March 03, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Great share thanks for the red!
Posted by: jersey shore season 3 episode 10 | March 07, 2011 at 09:26 PM
perhaps their lawyers pointed out the liability of providing agents a platform to stick their feet in their mouth. is there any other way of searching for your articles…
Posted by: cheap lacoste polos | March 08, 2011 at 01:33 AM