I doubt there is a conspiracy of Pentagon worker bees feeding the NYT super secrets with one hand and deleting milblogs with the other.

There isn’t, they are two seperate entities, and one is a case that effects the other.

*Pentagon worker bee releases information to the media

*Higher ranking individual complains about leaking information, instructs lacky to “plug those leaks”

*Lacky looks for leaks, finds milblogs

GI Korea is right that this is senseless, I agree that most milblogs (except for some on myspace) help the image of the military, but thats an argument, a reasoned debate even, and that not what command structure is set up to accomodate.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I tied to bring a remotely complex issue to the chain of command in the Army, and gotten an overly simplistic response that deals with half the issue and untlimately resolved nothing. Its not a conspiracy, its just that, with a war and all, guys in command have too much on their plate to warrant and in depth overview of milblogs, their effect and how they relate to press leaks.

On the issue of shutting down blogs by “former active duty military personnel”, well, I’m out, and living free in a foreign country, and I depend on nothing from them. I’m became a civilian again solely for the freedom of speech. I’ll shut mine down when I feel like it thank you very much. If they are trying to cut liabilities, pressuring ex-active duty folks is the wrong move. But it wouldn’t be the first time somebody shot themselves in the foot.

At what point are military directives or parameters outweighed by constitutional authority in regards to those that serve? For instance, could the military simply evoke an effective informational black out regarding the milblogs in the same fashion that they ban tattoos visible while in uniform or facial hair?

Nor do I believe that those leaks have even remotely adversely affected national security.

Don’t lose the forest for the trees.