IDF calls off West Bank raid due to Facebook leak

The Israel Defense Forces called off a raid in Palestinian territory after a soldier posted details, including the time and place, on the social networking website Facebook, Army Radio reported on Wednesday.

The soldier – since relieved of combat duty – described in a status update how his unit planned a “clean-up” arrest raid in a West Bank area, Army Radio said.

“On Wednesday we clean up Qatanah, and on Thursday, god willing, we come home,” the soldier wrote on his Facebook page, refering to a West Bank village near Ramallah.
The soldier also disclosed the name of the combat unit, the place of the operation and the time it will take place. Facebook friends then reported him to military authorities.

The Israeli military spokesman’s office had no immediate comment.

Israel says raids in the West Bank are aimed at detaining militants suspected of planning attacks on Israelis. Palestinian officials say the incursions undermine efforts by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority to enforce law and order in the territory.

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Bouhammer says it best :

First, milblogs are facing an increasingly  hostile environment from within the military.  While senior leadership has  embraced blogging and social media, many field grade officers and senior  NCOs do not embrace the concept.  From general apathy in not wanting to deal  with the issue to outright hositility to it, many commands are not only  failing to support such activities, but are aggressively acting against  active duty milbloggers, milspouses, and others.  The number of such  incidents appears to be growing, with milbloggers receiving reprimands,  verbal and written, not only for their activities but those of spouses and supporters.

C.J. Grisham of A  Soldier’s Perspective (http://www.soldiersperspective.us/).  C.J. has earned  accolades and respect, from the White House on down for his honest, and  sometimes blunt, discussion of issues — particularly PTSD.  In the last few  months, C.J. has seen an issue with a local school taken to his command who  failed to back him, and has even seen his effort to deal with PTSD, and lead  his men in same by example, used against him as a part of this.  Ultimately,  C.J. has had to sell his blog to help raise funds for his defense in this matter.

Grisham Legal Fund
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Please write “Grisham Legal Fund” in the memo line if you use this option.

In support of CJ and all milbloggers I will be silent with them.  We must realize that silencing one person is the first step in silencing us all…