Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
June 11, 2008 By Angie Leventis, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told roughly 400 Air Force personnel at Scott on Tuesday that the recent shake-up of the service's top leaders is due to a decade-long erosion in nuclear weapons security within the Air Force.
"It is a tremendous responsibility, one we must not and will never take lightly," he said.
The visit followed Gates' recent recommendation that Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, who has been stationed at Scott, become Air Force chief of staff. Schwartz — head of the U.S. Transportation Command at Scott — would replace Gen. T. Michael Moseley, who resigned last week. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne also resigned.
In March, it was discovered that the Air Force had mislabeled parts for nuclear missiles and accidentally shipped them to Taiwan in 2006. Then, in August, a flight of six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles was unknowingly shipped from North Dakota to Louisiana under the wing of a B-52 bomber.
A report by Adm. Kirkland Donald, director of Navy Nuclear Propulsion, indicated widespread weaknesses in the Air Force's nuclear mission and performance. None of the lapses, however, directly compromised the safety of the country or military personnel, Gates said.
Gates, who served in the Air Force in the 1960s, said he trusts in the new command to resolve the problems but encouraged those in the audience to "throw a flag" if they see any problems or failures.
"Rededicate yourselves to the standard of excellence that has been the hallmark of the Air Force for more than 60 years," he said.
June 11, 2008 By Angie Leventis, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told roughly 400 Air Force personnel at Scott on Tuesday that the recent shake-up of the service's top leaders is due to a decade-long erosion in nuclear weapons security within the Air Force.
"It is a tremendous responsibility, one we must not and will never take lightly," he said.
The visit followed Gates' recent recommendation that Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, who has been stationed at Scott, become Air Force chief of staff. Schwartz — head of the U.S. Transportation Command at Scott — would replace Gen. T. Michael Moseley, who resigned last week. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne also resigned.
In March, it was discovered that the Air Force had mislabeled parts for nuclear missiles and accidentally shipped them to Taiwan in 2006. Then, in August, a flight of six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles was unknowingly shipped from North Dakota to Louisiana under the wing of a B-52 bomber.
A report by Adm. Kirkland Donald, director of Navy Nuclear Propulsion, indicated widespread weaknesses in the Air Force's nuclear mission and performance. None of the lapses, however, directly compromised the safety of the country or military personnel, Gates said.
Gates, who served in the Air Force in the 1960s, said he trusts in the new command to resolve the problems but encouraged those in the audience to "throw a flag" if they see any problems or failures.
"Rededicate yourselves to the standard of excellence that has been the hallmark of the Air Force for more than 60 years," he said.