Defense Secretary Robert Gates has not been at a loss for words when it comes to criticism of the Air Force’s handling of the nuclear arsenal and even took the bold step of forcing resignations of the service’s top officials. On the same day that President-elect Barack Obama announced that Gates would remain in his position with the new administration, Secretary Gates spoke at the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.
Although not alone in blunders, Minot has been at the center of some of the most publicized nuclear mistakes over the past two years. In August 2007, Minot air crews accidentally loaded six nuclear-armed cruise missiles onto a B-52 bomber that then flew across the heartland of the country to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. Less than one year later it was reported that ballistic missile crew members fell asleep while holding classified launch code devices and then a truck carrying the booster for a Minuteman III missile overturned on its way to a launch facility in northwestern North Dakota.
“I wanted to tell you in person that, as stewards of America’s nuclear arsenal, your work is vital to the security of our nation. Handling nuclear weapons – the most powerful and destructive instruments in the arsenal of freedom – is a tremendous responsibility,” he said.
While he deflected some of the blame off the Airmen in direct contact with the arsenal by saying the problems were the result of the critical mission not receiving the “attention, funding, or personnel it deserved,” he was also firm in his emphasis that all are responsible. “For your part, you must never take your duties lightly. There is simply no room for error. Yours is the most sensitive mission in the entire US military.”
We’ve followed the foibles of the Air Force closely these past months and have commended Gates for taking a strong approach to dealing with them. We look forward to his continued leadership in this most critical area of national security.
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