Why the hell not?
So I think the primary reason I've decided to start this little mama is because of a Specialist serving in Iraq right now. SPC Colby Buzzell is a troop with the Stryker Brigade, and his blog started a whole shitstorm of trouble. One of my coworkers at SRTV turned me on to this guy's site, and I was really blown away by the raw descriptions of life and death in Iraq. While he wasn't exactly the most polished mofo out there -- he could use some spelling lessons -- he spoke in the Soldier's language, and didn't filter his opinions with any bullshit political considerations. Of course this meant the Army had to muzzle him.
His chain of command called it "operational security," and told him he had to have his posts reviewed prior to putting them out. I guess he's taken the safest road and just decided not to post any more original narratives. He still puts up articles and odds and ends, like a long letter from his battalion commander. As a public affairs guy, I think the American public needs to hear these voices and read his story. The press isn't telling it that way -- and unfortunately, as the guy who gets a lot of the stories the military broadcasters produce over there -- we ain't telling it any better.
It's actually almost comical to see. If you turn on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, you'll see the same "2 soldiers killed in a helicopter crash," or "16 villagers killed in airstrike on Fallujah." Then, switch over to AFN or my show and see the side the military wants you to see -- the schools being built, the medical assistance missions, feeding hungry people. I mean, that's all fine and well, but we're not seeing the day-to-day life of the American Soldier. From a fairly limited scope, we got to see that through Colby Buzzell. As narrow of a focus as it was, it was still a slice of life noticeably absent from mainstream and internal media.
I close with an open message to any Soldier or other servicemember serving in harm's way: God bless you for where you are and what you're doing -- stay safe, and watch your 6. But please -- if you have the opportunity or the desire -- take the time to document your experiences there. Keep a journal -- take notes -- talk it out into a tape recorder or something -- but don't let your story be told by someone with an agenda, be it the New York Times or AFN.
His chain of command called it "operational security," and told him he had to have his posts reviewed prior to putting them out. I guess he's taken the safest road and just decided not to post any more original narratives. He still puts up articles and odds and ends, like a long letter from his battalion commander. As a public affairs guy, I think the American public needs to hear these voices and read his story. The press isn't telling it that way -- and unfortunately, as the guy who gets a lot of the stories the military broadcasters produce over there -- we ain't telling it any better.
It's actually almost comical to see. If you turn on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, you'll see the same "2 soldiers killed in a helicopter crash," or "16 villagers killed in airstrike on Fallujah." Then, switch over to AFN or my show and see the side the military wants you to see -- the schools being built, the medical assistance missions, feeding hungry people. I mean, that's all fine and well, but we're not seeing the day-to-day life of the American Soldier. From a fairly limited scope, we got to see that through Colby Buzzell. As narrow of a focus as it was, it was still a slice of life noticeably absent from mainstream and internal media.
I close with an open message to any Soldier or other servicemember serving in harm's way: God bless you for where you are and what you're doing -- stay safe, and watch your 6. But please -- if you have the opportunity or the desire -- take the time to document your experiences there. Keep a journal -- take notes -- talk it out into a tape recorder or something -- but don't let your story be told by someone with an agenda, be it the New York Times or AFN.
posted by broadcastmike at 4:54 PM
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