From Seattle writer and consultant Matt Rosenberg...: Milblogs Still On The Rise

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Milblogs Still On The Rise

March 13, 2004

Blogs by members of the U.S. military provide an authentic voice on Iraq, Afghanistan and the war on terror in ways the mainstream media cannot, says Hugh Hewitt in The Weekly Standard online. Bookmark a few if you haven't yet (some good links in the Hewitt's piece here). And see if Hewitt's predictions come true:

THE SKYROCKETING POPULARITY of the milblogs guarantees that it won't be long before two things happen.
First, major media will figure out that they want to link to one or more of these folks as a way of adding authenticity to their sites. I hope Pentagon regulations allow these folks to get paid when the professional link people arrive. After all, any site that wants traffic must know that these sites are climbing quickly up the daily traffic rankings.

Second, some mid-level Pentagon type will decide that troops and officers speaking their mind is a threat to the tradition of a military detached from politics. Here's hoping Secretary Rumsfeld squashes that with a pre-emptive snow-flake that notes this development is critical to the public's understanding of the sacrifices and contribution of America's military.

Case in point: Hook's penultimate post: It concerns his 9-year-old son who won't be seeing his dad for a few months while dad is off taking the fight to the terrorists. That post alone does more to convey the crucial message to the civilian world eager to debate the level of prescription drug benefits.

Bookmark a few of the milblogs as a guarantee against complacency. And as an assurance of great commentary and good humor as well.