In military terms, “fire for effect” means putting iron on target. That’s what makes the Air Force’s decision to ban its personnel from websites posting Wikileaks’ classified documents so strange: all it does is highlight Air Force impotence, because curious airmen can scroll through the documents on their home computers, just like anyone else. In other words, the Air Force isn’t firing for effect, but firing to make a point.
After the initial data dump, the Air Force issued guidance warning its people to steer clear of classified WikiLeaks material last summer. “The information posted needs to be reviewed by the appropriate Original Classification Authorities (OCAs) to: determine if it’s classified, conduct damage assessments, and make a determination regarding continued classification,” a statement from Air Force Secretary Michael Donley’s office said. “Despite circumstances surrounding the WikiLeaks, all Air Force personnel must continue to protect similar or identical information commensurate with the level of classification assigned until the information is assessed by the appropriate OCAs.” (Don’t hold your breath.)
What’s even stranger is that the Air Force is the only service cutting off access to the New York Times and some 25 other media outlets, including the British newspaper The Guardian, the German magazine Der Spiegel, the Spanish newspaper El País and the French newspaper Le Monde. The other services say existing warnings to their personnel not to read any classified material released by WikiLeaks are sufficient. Kind of makes you wonder why the Air Force doesn’t.