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8 Generals Disciplined For Nuke Mistake[Shipment Of Nuclear Fuses To Taiwan]
AP ^ | 24 Sep 2008 | AP

Posted on 09/25/2008 1:09:25 PM PDT by BGHater

6 Air Force, 2 Army Generals Punished For Shipment Of Nuclear Fuses To Taiwan

Eight generals, ranging in rank from one to three stars, have been disciplined as a result of the mistaken shipment of fuses for nuclear warheads to Taiwan, The Associated Press has learned.

Defense officials said Wednesday that the six Air Force and two Army generals were given disciplinary letters that vary in seriousness but often can end careers or hopes of promotion.

The officers are mainly in logistical jobs and were involved to some degree in the mistaken shipment to Taiwan of four electrical fuses for ballistic missile nuclear warheads in 2006. The error did not become known until this past March.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the actions are not being announced until Thursday.

According to officials, at least one Air Force general received a letter of reprimand, which is a more serious rebuke, while others got less severe letters of admonishment or counseling. The two Army brigadier generals, who worked at the Defense Logistics Agency in Virginia, received what are called "memorandums of concern," also a lower level of punishment.

Nine other lower-ranking Air Force officers also were disciplined, but no details were available.

In early June, Defense Secretary Robert Gates sacked Gen. Michael Moseley, then Air Force chief of staff, and Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne, blaming them for failing to deal adequately with several nuclear-related missteps, including the mistaken shipment.

Gates acted swiftly after a sharply critical internal report on the shipping incident found "a decline in the Air Force's nuclear mission focus and performance" and a failure by Air Force leaders to respond effectively.

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: fuses; generals; nuclear; taiwan; usaf; usarmy

1 posted on 09/25/2008 1:09:26 PM PDT by BGHater
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To: BGHater

This pisses me off. We depend on these guys for our most basic defense needs.


2 posted on 09/25/2008 1:12:44 PM PDT by Cali Redneck
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To: Cali Redneck

HAH! Beat you by 45 seconds

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090472/posts


3 posted on 09/25/2008 1:14:51 PM PDT by PurpleMan
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To: BGHater

Or “Generals Disciplined for Violating PLA’s One-China Policy”


4 posted on 09/25/2008 1:17:07 PM PDT by familyop (cbt. engr. (cbt), NG, '89-'96, Duncan Hunter or no-vote)
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To: Cali Redneck

We will never know how it may have happened, but it does sound as if this is systemic and seriously out of whack when these many generals get a butt chewing. I think all of them should be demoted or fired and get someone in there who really undersands the seriousness of the situation. Until then, we will have a problem with this stuff and the movement of it world wide.


5 posted on 09/25/2008 1:18:41 PM PDT by geezerwheezer (get up boys, we're burnin' daylight!!!)
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To: BGHater
They are very lucky. In my day, if a loading crewmember mistakenly left one pocket zipper unzipped the load would be stopped and the squadron given a "down" that stayed on an officer's and CO's record forever. I cannot imagine the punishment for this sort of sloppiness then. Certainly a court martial and more.


6 posted on 09/25/2008 1:35:34 PM PDT by pabianice
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To: milford421

Ping.


7 posted on 09/25/2008 2:08:14 PM PDT by nw_arizona_granny ( http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1990507/posts?page=451 SURVIVAL, RECIPES, GARDENS, & INFO)
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To: Cali Redneck

Officers get a bad letter in their file, the enlisted guys go to jail.


8 posted on 09/25/2008 5:50:52 PM PDT by glorgau
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