World

Gates fires air force chiefs over nuclear blunders

by politisite | June 5, 2008 at 02:28 pm | 228 views | 3 comments | 15 recommendations

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates fired the air force secretary and chief of staff Thursday, holding them responsible for an erosion of standards that led to two major nuclear-related blunders.

Gates said "a substantial number" of generals and colonels also face possible disciplinary action as a result of a mistaken shipment of nuclear weapons fuses to Taiwan

He said that incident, as well as the accidental transfer of nuclear armed cruise missiles from one US air base to another last year, were symptoms of a decline in the air force's standards and focus on the nuclear mission.
"In summary I believe these actions are required because the focus of the air force's leadership has drifted with respect to perhaps its most sensitive mission," he said.
Gates asked for and received the resignations of General T. Michael Moseley, the air force chief of staff, and Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne after receiving the results of an investigation into the Taiwan shipment.
Four fuses used to trigger nuclear warheads were inadvertently shipped to Taiwan in August 2006 as helicopter batteries.

recommend Add a comment

BigT

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:25 on June 5th, 2008

According to the FoxNews update I got by email they were saying that this was part of an historic shakeup of the Air Force's higher command. Well, if you screw up, you should get kicked out.

rphillips

at 23:37 on June 5th, 2008

I recall some of the Joint Chiefs are opposed to taking the war to Iran. I wonder if General Mosely is among those who oppose Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Iran.

If so, his dismissal is very "convenient" for the administration. Don't you think?