The United States Air Force has made an unprecedented move to block access to blogs. The decision to restrict which sources of information airmen can use has caused widespread outrage and surprise. The Air Force Network Operations Center (AFNOC) at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., has said that all sites which use "blog" in their address will be unavailable. Also, all sites which are found to be blogs by the special software used by the Cyber Command will also be blocked.

"Basically," said Maj. Henry Schott of the command’s plans and requirements section, "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 told Military.com.

The U.S. Army has required that bloggers register with their chain of command and submit for review any kind of information related to their activity in the Army, but nobody went as far as to censor all the blogs in the world, Air force-style.

"If knowledge and information are power -- and no one disputes that -- then why not trust your people and empower them to explore all sides of issues affecting the service, air power and national security?" told Danger Room "Nathan Hale," a former journalist and Air Force intelligence officer, who maintains the In From the Cold blog.