• FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
  • We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.

U.S. military blocks websites to help Japan recovery efforts

AlaskaDenise

AlaskaDenise

In Memoriam
Washington (CNN) -- The U.S. military has blocked access to a range of popular commercial websites in order to free up bandwidth for use in Japan recovery efforts, according to an e-mail obtained by CNN and confirmed by a spokesman for U.S. Strategic Command.

The sites -- including YouTube, ESPN, Amazon, eBay and MTV -- were chosen not because of the content but because their popularity among users of military computers account for significant bandwidth, according to Strategic Command spokesman Rodney Ellison.

The block, instituted Monday, is intended "to make sure bandwidth was available in Japan for military operations" as the United States helps in the aftermath of last week's deadly earthquake and tsunami, Ellison explained.

U.S. Pacific Command made the request to free up the bandwidth. The sites, 13 in all, are blocked across the Department of Defense's .mil computer system.

"This is a response to a time of extreme demand for networks," Ellison said.

Ellison emphasized that it was a temporary measure.

"This blockage will be of a temporary nature and may increase or decrease in the size and scope as necessary," according to the message distributed to military announcing the move.

"We are doing this to facilitate the recovery efforts under way in Japan," Ellison explained. "We are trying to make sure we are giving them as many avenues and as much support as we can."

The blocked websites are:

* Youtube.com

* Googlevideo.com

* Amazon.com

* ESPN.go.com

* eBay.com

* Doubleclick.com

* Eyewonder.com

* Pandora.com

* streamtheworld.com

* Mtv.com

* Ifilm.com

* Myspace.com

* Metacafe.com

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/03/15/us.military.websites/
 
Re: U.S. military blocks websites to help Japan recovery efforts

This will settle any disputes as to what the government can do to websites!

.
 
Re: U.S. military blocks websites to help Japan recovery efforts

It sounds like they are just blocking sites from access by their own military network. So it would be just like an employer doing that which is fine. They aren't tampering with a civilian system.

Some news sites are resource hogs with all the adds and once and awhile I disable Javascript just to surf faster.

(I have read about other types of proposals and am not in support of any kind of interference or altering of civilian communications, of course. ;) )
 
Re: U.S. military blocks websites to help Japan recovery efforts

I can very easily understand why this is necessary. Military rescue or nuclear reactor specialists need to do what they need to do.

Soon after the initial earthquake there were some reports that Japan lost some of its major networks, so if they're already working with reduced capacity the military doesn't need to be constrained by those problems.

If our atomic experts are on the ground at Fukushima or another sick reactor, and they need to send photos to stateside experts for STAT comments, a hung program could create serious problems. If those experts only have a 1 hour window to be inside a facility before their safe radiation dosages are met, every minute counts.

.
 
Re: U.S. military blocks websites to help Japan recovery efforts

That's so true. I hadn't thought of that. I'm really hoping the reactors will be brought under control soon. Everyone in Japan needs this relief.
 
Re: U.S. military blocks websites to help Japan recovery efforts

The military has already flown 2 humanitarian relief flights (C-17s) out of here (Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, AK) and will continue tomorrow.

Some reports have said US nuclear experts are due to arrive there to assist in reactor issues.

What an impossible mess - way too much for even the most developed countries to handle alone.

.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top