Nuke transportation story has explosive implications

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.star-telegram.com/245/story/259201.html


By ROBERT STORMER
Special to the Star-Telegram
Last month, six W80-1 nuclear-armed AGM-129 advanced cruise missiles were flown from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to Barksdale AFB in Louisiana and sat on the tarmac for 10 hours undetected.

Press reports initially cited the Air Force mistake of flying nuclear weapons over the United States in violation of Air Force standing orders and international treaties, while completely missing the more important major issues, such as how six nuclear cruise missiles got loose to begin with.

Opinion columns and editorials appeared in America's newspapers, some blasting the Air Force for flying nukes over the U.S. and some defending the Air Force procedure. None of the news reports focused on the real questions of our nuclear security.

Let me be very clear here: We are not talking about paintball cartridges or pellet gun ammo. We are talking nuclear weapons.

There is a strict chain of custody for all such weapons. Nuclear weapons handling is spelled out in great detail in Air Force regulations, to the credit of that service. Every person who orders the movement of these weapons, handles them, breaks seals or moves any nuclear weapon must sign off for tracking purposes.

Two armed munitions specialists are required to work as a team with all nuclear weapons. All individuals working with nuclear weapons must meet very strict security standards and be tested for loyalty -- this is known as a "Personnel Reliability Program." They work in restricted areas within eyeshot of one another and are reviewed constantly.

[seemslikeadream]

1. The questions that must be answered:

http://www.star-telegram.com/245/story/259201.html

The questions that must be answered:

1 Why, and for what ostensible purpose, were these nuclear weapons taken to Barksdale?

2 How long was it before the error was discovered?

3 How many mistakes and errors were made, and how many needed to be made, for this to happen?

4 How many and which security protocols were overlooked?

5 How many and which safety procedures were bypassed or ignored?

6 How many other nuclear command and control non-observations of procedure have there been?

7 What is Congress going to do to better oversee U.S. nuclear command and control?

8 How does this incident relate to concern for reliability of control over nuclear weapons and nuclear materials in Russia, Pakistan and elsewhere?

9 Does the Bush administration, as some news reports suggest, have plans to attack Iran with nuclear weapons?

10 If this was an accident, have we degraded our military to a point where we are now making critical mistakes with our nuclear arsenal? If so, how do we correct this?

[Blashyrkh]

14. The biggest question is: WHO authorised their movement in the first place?

Someone, somewhere must have issued a directive for these actions to take place. The process began because someone wanted those nukes moved.

My guess: Dick Cheney.

[Octafish]

16. Then, ''Why?''

My guess, too, is to ask Cheney.

[Blashyrkh]

17. This?

http://www.ken-welch.com/Reports/Anbar_Nukes.html

[liberalmuse]

2. I read this just this morning.

If we had a REAL news media, they would be on this 24-7 until we had some answers. Even so, I'm glad at least someone is on this. It really makes your skin crawl considering the possibilities. And the WH does not think they have to answer for this beyond, "It was an accident"! We truly live in insane times.

[TheDoorbellRang]

3. Yet something else to keep our eyes on

Thanks for keeping this in sight. K&R

[mark414]

4. there is no conceivable way that this incident was "an accident"

somebody moved them and for a reason. and we need to find out why.

[Junkdrawer]

5. And how many did they move without being caught?

:shrug:

[seemslikeadream]

7. Exercise Vigilant Shield '08: 'Guam at center of largest counter-terrorism NORAD drill'

http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=148&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=12359&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1718&hn=pacificnewscenter&he=.com

Exercise Vigilant Shield '08: 'Guam at center of largest counter-terrorism NORAD drill'
PNC Staff Reporter 18.SEP.07
2:35 p.m. The NORAD drill, conducted to be concurrent with Top Officials 4 (TOPOFF 4), the nation's premier exercise of terrorism preparedness sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, and several other linked exercises as part of the National Level Exercise 1-08.
These linked exercises will take place October 15-20 and are being conducted throughout the United States and in conjunction with several partner nations including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as well as the Territory of Guam.
North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command along with U.S. Pacific Command, the Department of Homeland Security as well as local, state and other federal responders will exercise their response abilities against a variety of potential threats during Exercise Vigilant Shield ‘08, which is a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-designated, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)-sponsored, and U.S. Joint Forces Command-supported Department of Defense exercise for homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities missions.
VS-08 and National Level Exercise 1-08 will provide local, state, tribal, inter-agency, Department of Defense, and non-governmental organizations and agencies involved in homeland security and homeland defense the opportunity to participate in a full range of exercise scenarios that will better prepare participants to prevent and respond to national crises. The participating organizations will conduct a multi-layered, civilian-led response to a national crisis.
USNORTHCOM’s primary exercise venues for VS-08 include locations in Oregon, Arizona and a cooperative venue with USPACOM in the Territory of Guam. NORAD’s aerospace detection and defense events will take place across all the exercise venues, to exercise the ability to mobilize resources for aerospace defense, aerospace control, maritime warning, and coordination of air operations in a disaster area.

[seemslikeadream]

8. Fact Sheet

http://www.norad.mil/News/2007/VS-08_fact_sheet.pdf


http://www.northcom.mil/News/2007/083007.html
TERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command along with U.S. Pacific Command, the Department of Homeland Security as well as local, state and other federal responders will exercise their response abilities against a variety of potential threats during Exercise Vigilant Shield ‘08, a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-designated, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)-sponsored, and U.S. Joint Forces Command-supported Department of Defense exercise for homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities missions.

VS-08 will be conducted concurrent with Top Officials 4 (TOPOFF 4), the nation’s premier exercise of terrorism preparedness sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, and several other linked exercises as part of the National Level Exercise 1-08. These linked exercises will take place October 15-20 and are being conducted throughout the United States and in conjunction with several partner nations including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as well as the Territory of Guam.

VS-08 and National Level Exercise 1-08 will provide local, state, tribal, interagency, Department of Defense, and non-governmental organizations and agencies involved in homeland security and homeland defense the opportunity to participate in a full range of exercise scenarios that will better prepare participants to prevent and respond to national crises. The participating organizations will conduct a multi-layered, civilian-led response to a national crisis.

USNORTHCOM’s primary exercise venues for VS-08 include locations in Oregon, Arizona and a cooperative venue with USPACOM in the Territory of Guam. NORAD’s aerospace detection and defense events will take place across all the exercise venues, to exercise the ability to mobilize resources for aerospace defense, aerospace control, maritime warning, and coordination of air operations in a disaster area.

[WillyT]

12. I'd Also Like To Know... Where Are They Now ???

Are they still sitting at Barksdale??? Have they been dismantled and shipped by cargo plane back to Minot???

:shrug:

[earth mom]

6. K & R! nt

[bonito]

9. K&R!

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. SLAD, have you heard about the missing bomb?

Someone on one of my email groups sent out an email that claimed 6 bombs left Minot and only 5 arrived in LA.

[seemslikeadream]

11. I've heard that also that why I believe this is extremely important

and we've got that "exersise" coming up :nuke:

[warren pease]

19. "And we've got that exercise coming up..."

Yes we do. If you're into a long, tedious but well researched article on the upcoming TOPOFF 4 / Vigilant Shield 08 drills coming to Portland next week, here's my take on it: http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_2506.shtml

The missing nukes and Cheney's possible role in that episode have their own section, complete with a link to the military forums where you found all those great quotes a couple of weeks back regarding the sheer impossibility of this event being the result of "mistakes" or "incompetence" or any of the other excuses that disparage some of the most highly trained and constantly evaluated personnel in any military organization, anywhere in the world.

Also, I'm glad you're back from limbo, SLAD, and you're still following this story. If all I knew is what CNN told me, I'd think the most pressing issue in the world is Britany's 53rd comeback or which TV shows are being canceled.

What a sorry excuse for a free press: on-air "talent" replacing actual reporters; feather-headed bliss ninnies masquerading as news readers; bottom-line driven editorial decisions; corporate control over content; and infotainment consumers too narcotized by this unrelenting trash that they actually believe they're seeing the most important events of the day.

/rant

wp

[seemslikeadream]

21. Thanks I was hoping you would post that here today

I read it last night :hi:

I was gonna post it today if you hadn't shown up by 4:30!!

[warren pease]

22. I usually don't do vanity posts, but this one was perfect for this thread, so... n/t

[Pavulon]

13. Fingerprints

US nuclear weapons have fissile material from just a few places in the country. The fallout from a nuclear blast can be used to determine the origin of the fissile and non fissile parts.

We have nuclear weapons everywhere we need them. We do not need to sneak them around.

This is a massive mess and serious breach of protocol.

The weapons we make are FAR more sophisticated than a nuclear power like pakistan. Other makers of two stage bombs (france, russia, etc) make unique weapons as well.

It would be pretty difficult to use a weapon without point of origin being determined.

[Wiley50]

15. The Anthrax had a fingerprint too. But that hasn't helped that mystery to be solved n/t

[lovuian]

25. Iowa Ames lab accidentally burned it

all their amples

[absyntheminded]

18. Fuk dat! 23 year Air Farce vet

Not even a rat turd gets on a "buf" or any other aircraft without the whole aircrew and ground crew knowing whats up!
If they were on the wing hardpoints, the barksdale ground crew would see 'em two miles out before they landed. If they were on the "rack" inside thats another story, but the aircrew would know, either way.
The only question is whether or not they (aircrew) knew they were nuk tipped or not.....
Regardless.....do as your told (as always) soldier...

Somebody got caught pencil whipping off some nukes slated for destruction - Doh!!!!

(Wow - how many others are we not hearing about?)

Mommy.....please make the bad man go away.....Ready to go - just waiting on my passport

[seemslikeadream]

20. Maybe you missed these discussions

:hi:
Were the Nukes "accidentally" loaded on the B-52 meant for Iran?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1739811

Air Force or civilain pilots QUESTION: Is this normal procedure?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1740822

Lost Nuclear Warheads from a B-52 Now in Iran? July 30 / 31, 2005
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1755930

Nukes Over Amerika (Weekend Edition)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1765351

Was A Covert Attempt To Bomb Iran W/ Nuclear Weapons Foiled By A Military Leak?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=125&topic_id=173147&mesg_id=173147

David Lindorff: Was That Nuclear-Armed B-52 Destined for Iran?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1767427

Am I crazy, or did Cheney just try to nuke Iran?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1771223

B-52s and Bush’s War Plans
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1801086

2 DEAD ***Minot Air Force Base Airman Died While on Leave ***WHERE THE NUKES ENDED UP***
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1814496

[moodforaday]

23. a repeat

but K&R nonetheless!

[lovuian]

24. Rumours out there says there maybe a nuke missing

that 6 got on and 5 were delivered

One went missing

Just speculation going on how many nukes there were