The Role of the Internet in the Iraq War

"I am alive. I am still kicking. ... (I'm) counting down my days till I get the hell out" were some of the last words blogged by Army Spc. Martinez before being shot by a sniper in Tamin, Iraq (Memmot 4). The War on Terrorism has been the first major war that has been shown in newspapers, magazines, twenty-four hour news stations, and most recently, the internet. Amateur videos created by soldiers have been posted on youtube, online "blogs" have depicted the daily life of a soldier, and insurgents have used the internet as a medium to post executions. The internet has quickly become a medium that has broken the barrier between the soldier and the citizens they protect, allowing public opinion of a war to change even faster than before.