By SKIP ARGYLE
Rant Defense Weekly
WASHINGTON -- The US Air Force has banned its servicemen from accessing blogs for official use, warning the Web sites could "sap and impurify the precious mental readiness" of its airmen.
The news was first reported in the Air Force Times, and media outlets such as Wired then picked up the story. The news outlets reported that although many blogs are banned, through a process the USAF's Cyber Command oversees, many regular news services remain available to airmen. Wired writes:
AFNOC has imposed bans on all sites with "blog" in their URLs, thus cutting off any sites hosted by Blogspot. Other blogs, and sites in general, are blocked based on content reviews performed at the base, command and AFNOC level ...The idea isn't to keep airmen in the dark -- they can still access news sources that are "primary, official-use sources," said Maj. Henry Schott, A5 for Air Force Network Operations. "Basically ... if it's a place like The New York Times, an established, reputable media outlet, then it's fairly cut and dry that that's a good source, an authorized source," he said.
The policy is the brainchild of Brig. Gen. Thaddeus "Buck" Surpelson, who reportedly believes blogs provide "information notably lacking in purity of essence."
"These Web logs, or 'blogs,' have no regard for the proper dissemination of information. For this reason, I want to impress upon you gentlemen the need for extreme watchfulness," Surpelson said recently at a meeting of Cyber Command officers, according to a source present. "We all know the Reds are tricky, and can broadcast disinformation through a variety of means. Trust no blog, no matter its credentials, unless the author is known to you personally. Even then, be wary, for its author may be a secret Communist agent."
"I can no longer sit back and allow Communist infiltration, Communist indoctrination, Communist subversion, and the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify the precious mental readiness of our airmen," Surpelson said.
Among Air Force personnel, opinions on Surpelson's directives are divided.
"Gee, those Communists sure are tricky," said Senior Airman Clyde Percival, as he browsed one of the few remaining sites available to airmen, a Web site devoted to the life and music of John Philip Sousa. "I had absolutely no idea that Instapundit, Powerline, Dean's World and all these other sites I enjoyed were actually written by seditious, Commie-loving turncoats, ready and willing to destroy our way of life at a moment's notice. Thank God we were made aware of this before it was too late."
"What do you mean, 'we're not fighting the Russians?'" Percival added.
"This is completely insane. For that matter, Surpelson is completely insane," said an Air Force lieutenant, as he pounded his computer's keyboard in vain. "I can't even call up my favorite football blogs. What the hell was he thinking? Communists have not infiltrated the National Football League!"
"Never mind the fact a lot of these blogs provide a window into the morale and everyday conditions facing our airmen, which many of them understandably won't openly mention to their superiors," said the lieutenant, as he desperately tried to find news about the Denver Broncos.
Interestingly, the new Air Force policy still allows airmen to access Web sites such as The New York Times and other mainline media. Some speculated this was done to prevent the major media from taking notice of the ban, although others said the move was made with more practical considerations in mind.
"I hate to say this, but The New York Times does a much better job of providing information about our war plans than strategic command does," said an anonymous Air Force captain.
Posted by Benjamin Kepple at March 2, 2008 10:54 AM | TrackBackSir,
You neglected to mention the impact that communist blogs would have on our airmen's precious bodily fluids. I'm sure tihs was also an important consideration.
(and I really hope you get that reference!)
Posted by: Aaron W. Thorne at March 3, 2008 10:26 AM