Five to be fired for Minot nuclear mistake

[USNA69]

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@2012mom?

How in the world could the initial mistake have occurred, if, in fact, the nuclear-tipped cruise missiles are stored in a separate facility, as stated in the article?

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@raimus

Talking to people who used to work in SAC, they somtimes mixed the storage.

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<p>I cannot imagine long term concurrent storage. It is a waste of space but more importantly a waste of procedures. Why impose the very stringent accountability of nukes with non-nukes which would be necessary if they were stored together? It would undoubtedly lead to compromise. </p>

<p>I have read recently in relation to this incident conflicting statements that both the AF did and did not store nukes and conventionals together. Maybe in ready storage areas but I highly doubt elsewhere. If they did store them concurrently, the continuing career of the person who made that decision should, in my opinion, be questioned.<br>

@Christcorp

This whole situation has turned into a scape goat situation. Too many people trying to cover their A$$ and blame it on someone else. First of all, I don’t even see what the problem is. Even if the plane crashed, it’s not like the weapon could detonate or anything. But other than that, it should be the responsibility of the HIGHEST ranking person who knew what was going on. No one else. That is why we get paid the big bucks. Take all the people who knew ahead of time that it was going to transport from Minot to Barksdale. The highest ranking person is the one responsible. End of discussion.

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<p>Surely you cannot be serious. This is probably the most serious breach of nuclear security in the history of the military. Accountability of nuclear weapons must be flawless. Anything less results in lost, or even more critical, stolen weapons. All it would require would be a warhead in a location that only a single unscrupulous airman with financial problems knew about. The rest could literally be history. </p>

<p>Senior to the highest ranking person who knew what was going on, is the person responsible for his training and knowledge and execution of proper procedures. That person is perhaps more accountable than the lazy individual who skipped a step. And even the next level above this, not recognizing that proper procedures were not being implemented. It is called accountability. The Chairman of the JCS will definitely recognize the need for it. Heads should roll. </p>

<p>My question is did the ensuing inventory turn up any more missing or misplaced warheads? Was this a lone incident?</p>