Panel Cites Drop in U.S. Attention to Nuclear Arsenal

[salin]

Source: Washington Post

The Defense Department is displaying a "precipitous decrease in attention" to the security and control of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, according to a Defense Science Board task force that examined the broader causes behind the U.S. flight in August of a B-52 bomber that inadvertently carried six cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads.

"The decline in DoD focus has been more pronounced than realized and too extreme to be acceptable," the task force said in a report released yesterday by its chairman, retired Air Force Gen. Larry D. Welch, at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

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The Welch panel pointed out that Air Force colonels, Navy captains and mid-level civilians are now responsible for managing the Pentagon's nuclear programs -- a task that during the Cold War was handled by senior flag officers or senior civilians. One of the panel's recommendations is the appointment of an assistant secretary of defense for nuclear enterprise reporting directly to the defense secretary, as well as the naming of flag officers in each of the services who would focus solely on nuclear weapons.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/12/AR2008021202498.html?hpid=moreheadlines

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When bushjr came to power, there was a big push in the senate for money and international support in monitoring (and securing) nukes that could fall into rogue hands after the fall of the Soviet Union. If I recall that effort has been severly ignored. And now we read that we are not even tracking/monitoring closely our own arsenal. Yep, the bushadmin and republicans sure are the party of "national security" :sarcasm:

[trusty elf]

1. The next thing you know

nuke oversight will be outsourced to some crony contractor. Why not let Blackwater handle it?

[salin]

2. scary thought....

if not Blackwater, perhaps Halliburton?

[trusty elf]

3. Halliburton would do a heck of a job I'm sure.

Or how about some "end times" kooks!?

Actually, I think the Blackwater guy is a Jayzush nut, isn't he?

[DeepModem Mom]

4. K&R