no one, and by that I mean no one, linked or quoted any of them on the issue.

Ouch. You're right, though. Speaking only for myself, I guess in my (pathetic) defense, it was just easier to link to one or two posts that had a collection of links. It's really not about not reading the deployed blogs, although I admittedly only checked a couple when that story came out (and didn't find anything, but it's not like they have the luxury of a regular blogging schedule).

Again, only speaking for myself, I read this blog and the other usual suspects' blogs far more often than the deployed blogs simply because they're updated more often and usually have a finger on what's going on around the milblogs (including the deployed ones). You know, the "gatekeepers." And as you certainly know, there are only so many you can read in one day--sometimes all I can do is read the Dawn Patrol and Milblogs just to get a "taste" of it all. But yeah, it sucks that they don't get more eyes on their pages. I think I need to do my part to help fix that too.

I read several of them, but I have the same problem with them that I have with any blog. I am a horrible linker/commenter these days. It all came down when my company decided to threaten termination of individuals expressing out of the line opinions on blogs.

Ouch, is right ...

... though a good part of the angst is driven by the need to prevent the irrevocable (in practical terms) loss of future access to the viewpoint of the warfighters in the field ... even if their SiteMeters aren't spinning like they were made by Pratt & Whitney at this moment.

I'm guilty of spending too many hours trying to stomp on trolls nipping at the ankles of the Big Dogs of the Milblogosphere ... and not enough hours learning from the Men and Women who are being shot at, and returning both physical and rhetorical fire with effect.

Or, for that matter, publicizing what they are saying. (Of course, my own SiteMeter spins about as fast as the bogies on the crawler used to move the Space Shuttle to the pad.)

I'm beginning to see a need to change the paragidm of the milblogosphere at this moment in history.

The Men and Women in-theater have the credibility and the demonstrated will to illustrate to the rest of us ... especially those who think this war is optional ... what we need to be doing, and why we need to do it.

The problem is getting the message out to the vast majority of people who are still asking "what's a blog"? Milbloggers are just beginning to get noticed by media channels that can do a lot to get that message out ... but the politics still drowns out the facts-on-the-ground.

The questions are ...

1> How can we accelerate the process of breaking out beyond the blogosphere, and getting the messages from our warfighters to many more Americans in a credible manner?

2> We have already seen ... from the Dawn Patrol to B5's "Someone You Should Know" ... examples of the Big Dogs emulating John the Baptist's desire to "decrease" so Someone more important is free and clear to "increase".

Therefore, should more of the Big Dogs/stateside milbloggers/cake-eaters like me "decrease" to serve the greater need, and put the emphasis in our posts -- and comments -- what these warfighters are saying, even over our own opinions and bloviations?

Thoughts?

Y'all might also want to take a look at the remodeled Eject! Eject! Eject! . Looks like Bill's got something brewing that might complement our efforts to support the mission.

Excuse me:

http://ejectejecteject.com

(Link in last post was busted -- was in a hurry this morning!)

I'm all for a change in the paradigm of the milblogosphere.

I think it is time to recognize that our deployed milbloggers are a valuable source of counter propaganda. Acting on their own initiative, speaking as Americans with First Amendment rights and not as screened, censored, approved spokespersons of their commanders, they have credibility that no "offical" source will ever have. Friction with the "official" sources is inevitable, and adds to milblogger credibility.

The paradigm I recommend is that of an insurgency, in revolt against the MSM, the Administration's non-existent strategic communications, and Big Army's tireless efforts to lose the infowar.

Well, I have to honestly say, I DO read -- occasionally when I have the time. But what I fail to do on a regular basis is comment. I guess sometimes those of us who you're taking care of feel a little overwhelmed by what you guys do and maybe that we don't have anything of value to add to what you say. You are making me second guess the "lack of value" thing though. Maybe it IS valuable for you guys (and gals) to know that we appreciate you keeping us in the loop of what you do each day. You all have my deepest appreciation and respect. Thank you for everything.

I don't comment as much as I should by I try and goto blogs if I read them instead of just reading what is in their RSS.