The Internet & the War in Iraq

The Associated Press piece, On blogs and Web sites, by e-mail and video, the Iraq war is fought on the Internet, published online in MIT's Technology Review, calls the Operation Iraqi Freedom iWar v1.0 "interactive".  Who's putting information online about the war? Just about everyone. There are soldier blogs, a U.S. military Website, an Islamic Army Website, Internet resources on Iraq selected by the Library of Congress, and even videos showing attacks on U.S. soldiers. The story of what's happening in Iraq is being told from the viewpoints of many different people, not just journalists or official government sources, for the war is being fought online as well as in Iraq. According to the article, the Pentagon, understanding the importance of digital communication, "is preparing for iWar v2.0." As you talk with your children about contemporary issues, it is important that they understand that critical reading and attention to sources of information are important. Media literacy is an essential ingredient in the education of our students today.