SecDef cleans house at the Air Force offices

2muchcoffeeman · Jun 5, 2008

Robert Burns said:

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates ousted the Air Force's top military and civilian leaders Thursday, holding them to account in a historic Pentagon shake-up after embarrassing nuclear mix-ups.

Gates announced at a news conference that he had accepted the resignations of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley and Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne — a highly unusual double firing.

Gates said his decision was based mainly on the damning conclusions of an internal report on the mistaken shipment to Taiwan of four Air Force electrical fuses for ballistic missile warheads. And he linked the underlying causes of that slip-up to another startling incident: the flight last August of a B-52 bomber that was mistakenly armed with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles.

The report drew the stunning conclusion that the Air Force's nuclear standards have been in a long decline, a "problem that has been identified but not effectively addressed for over a decade."

Gates said an internal investigation found a common theme in the B-52 and Taiwan incidents: "a decline in the Air Force's nuclear mission focus and performance" and a failure by Air Force leaders to respond effectively.

In a reflection of his concern about the state of nuclear security, Gates said he had asked a former defense secretary, James Schlesinger, to lead a task force that will recommend ways to ensure that the highest levels of accountability and control are maintained in Air Force handling of nuclear weapons.
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"The Taiwan incident clearly was the trigger," Gates said when asked whether Moseley and Wynne would have retained their positions in the absence of the mistaken shipment of fuses. He also said that Donald found a "lack of effective Air Force leadership oversight" of its nuclear mission.

The investigation found a declining trend in Air Force nuclear expertise — not the first time that has been raised as a problem, Gates said — and a drifting of the Air Force's focus away from its nuclear mission, which includes stewardship of the land-based missile component of the nation's nuclear arsenal, as well as missiles and bombs assigned for nuclear missions aboard B-52 and B-2 long-range bombers.

Gates also announced that "a substantial number" of Air Force general officers and colonels were identified in the Donald report as potentially subject to disciplinary measures that range from removal from command to letters of reprimand. He said he would direct the yet-to-be-named successors to Wynne and Moseley to evaluate those identified culprits and decide what disciplinary actions are warranted — "or whether they can be part of the solution" to the problems found by Donald.
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I'll say this for Gates: He doesn't fuck around. He shoved the Army secretary out on his ass last year because of the problems at Walter Reed. Have to say I'm very happy to see a SecDef who's willing to do the right thing, even if that involves whacking political appointees (Wynne's previous employer was General Dynamics).

alleyallen · Jun 5, 2008

See....this is a much bigger and more important story than any bullshit that's going on with the campaign trail. But too many journalists and too many Americans are too fucking short-sighted to see that.

sportschick · Jun 6, 2008

I'm glad to see somebody taking a hard line when it's needed.

Bubbler · Jun 6, 2008

That's some scary shit. Good for Sec. Gates, lets hope he continues to do the right thing when hiring the replacements.

Starman · Jun 6, 2008

2muchcoffeeman said:

Robert Burns said:

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates ousted the Air Force's top military and civilian leaders Thursday, holding them to account in a historic Pentagon shake-up after embarrassing nuclear mix-ups.

Gates announced at a news conference that he had accepted the resignations of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley and Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne a highly unusual double firing.

Gates said his decision was based mainly on the damning conclusions of an internal report on the mistaken shipment to Taiwan of four Air Force electrical fuses for ballistic missile warheads. And he linked the underlying causes of that slip-up to another startling incident: the flight last August of a B-52 bomber that was mistakenly armed with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles.

The report drew the stunning conclusion that the Air Force's nuclear standards have been in a long decline, a "problem that has been identified but not effectively addressed for over a decade."

Gates said an internal investigation found a common theme in the B-52 and Taiwan incidents: "a decline in the Air Force's nuclear mission focus and performance" and a failure by Air Force leaders to respond effectively.

In a reflection of his concern about the state of nuclear security, Gates said he had asked a former defense secretary, James Schlesinger, to lead a task force that will recommend ways to ensure that the highest levels of accountability and control are maintained in Air Force handling of nuclear weapons.
Click to expand...

"The Taiwan incident clearly was the trigger," Gates said when asked whether Moseley and Wynne would have retained their positions in the absence of the mistaken shipment of fuses. He also said that Donald found a "lack of effective Air Force leadership oversight" of its nuclear mission.

The investigation found a declining trend in Air Force nuclear expertise not the first time that has been raised as a problem, Gates said and a drifting of the Air Force's focus away from its nuclear mission, which includes stewardship of the land-based missile component of the nation's nuclear arsenal, as well as missiles and bombs assigned for nuclear missions aboard B-52 and B-2 long-range bombers.

Gates also announced that "a substantial number" of Air Force general officers and colonels were identified in the Donald report as potentially subject to disciplinary measures that range from removal from command to letters of reprimand. He said he would direct the yet-to-be-named successors to Wynne and Moseley to evaluate those identified culprits and decide what disciplinary actions are warranted "or whether they can be part of the solution" to the problems found by Donald.
Click to expand...

I'll say this for Gates: He doesn't fuck around. He shoved the Army secretary out on his ass last year because of the problems at Walter Reed. Have to say I'm very happy to see a SecDef who's willing to do the right thing, even if that involves whacking political appointees (Wynne's previous employer was General Dynamics).
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An Air Force Secretary formerly a corporate stooge for a major supplier. Well knock me over with a feather.

three_bags_full · Jun 6, 2008

Apparently he has a history of taking accountability to the highest levels.

Glad I'm not a general.

Baron Scicluna · Jun 6, 2008

AlleyAllen said:

See....this is a much bigger and more important story than any bullshit that's going on with the campaign trail. But too many journalists and too many Americans are too fucking short-sighted to see that.
Click to expand...

Well, that's because Hillary hasn't CONCEDED yet! Oh, no, she hasn't conceded!

Watched beginning of Today show this morning. First discussion of politics was predicting what states Obama and McCain will carry. No issues, no discussions. Just, Obama wins Illinois, and McCain wins Arizona, and let's figure out the electoral votes from there. Five months before the election.

And we wonder why we get the government we have.

Ben_Hecht · Jun 6, 2008

Kickass.

Football_Bat · Jun 6, 2008

Expect nothing from an Aggie but an ass-kicking.

2muchcoffeeman · Jun 6, 2008

Ben_Hecht said:

Kickass.
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And took names.

I had some reservations about Gates when he was first nominated. I'm pleased to know I was wrong.

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SecDef cleans house at the Air Force offices

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