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

[DearAbby]

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.

More: http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/15/us.military.websites/index.html

[bbinacan]

1. Makes sense. n/t

[DearAbby]

2. Yeah it does.

What is surprising, pinpointing sites to shut down. kill switch-targeting. They can shut down any website they deem threatening.

[sailor65]

3. They shut nothing down

They only blocked access by their own networks. Any home internet user can do the same thing. No kill switch here.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. Don't cohfuse them with facts...

[99th_Monkey]

5. I just logged onto YouTube, no problemo. nt

[Matariki]

7. Are you on a military computer?

otherwise check reading comprehension. :P

[DearAbby]

8. Thanks

[99th_Monkey]

12. my bad

I've been a little scattered trying to keep up with the ever-changing news of Japan meltdowns, and honestly I didn't read the op all that carefully, obviously.

[DearAbby]

6. When did I say it was occurring here and NOW??

It's clear you are purposely not understanding the point I was trying to make...they HAVE THE CAPABILITY of doing this at any time...NOT THAT THEY ARE DOING IT NOW.

doh.

[DFab420]

9. doh. delete.

I'm an idiot and re read the post. delete to avoid sounding like a total jackass... :P

[Matariki]

10. Ahem. Any business can block certain sites, happens all the time.

For instance I worked at a place that blocked sites that streamed music and video because it was hogging up bandwidth for more legitimate business use.

That's what the article *you posted* is about. NOT the military shutting down Amazon, etc.

:eyes:

[Matariki]

11. From your own post

The sites, 13 in all, are blocked across the Department of Defense's .mil computer system.

Get it?