Officers disciplined over nuclear botches

[CommunityEditor]

The Air Force mistakenly shipped classified ballistic missile components to Taiwan in August 2006, but didn’t discover it until last Wednesday.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne said at a press conference Tuesday the Air Force sent Taiwan four fuses designed to trigger nuclear and non-nuclear Minuteman III ballistic missiles instead of batteries for utility helicopters the U.S. originally planned to send.

The mistake occurred a year before airmen from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., accidentally ferried and lost track of six nuclear warheads flown on a B-52 Stratofortress to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., prompting criticism of the Air Force’s ability to secure its strategic weapon stockpile.

Airman shipped the four fuses encased in Minuteman III nose cones back in March 2005 from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., to the Defense Logistics Agency warehouse at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, since F.E. Warren was overstocked, Wynne said.

But instead of securing the fuses in classified storage areas, Principle Deputy Undersecretary for Defense Ryan Henry said the airman stored the fuses at an unclassified site. He also said during the press conference that he could only be speculative on this part at this point.

More than a year later, airman at Hill took the fuses out of storage and shipped them to Taiwan where government officials immediately reported the wrong shipment to U.S. officials; however, Wynne said it wasn’t until Wednesday that military leaders realized the gravity of the mistake.

The President and Secretary of Defense were both briefed about the shipment and airman immediately rushed to return the fuses to U.S. control transporting them to a nearby U.S. base.

“I cannot emphasize forcefully enough how strong the secretary feels about this matter and how disconcerting it is to him,” Henry said.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates launched an investigation Wednesday headed by Admiral Kirkland Donald, director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion, into who was responsible for the mistake and what caused it. In an official memo, Gates specified he wanted an initial assessment by April 15 and a final report within the next 60 days.

The missing fuses should have been accounted for during quarterly inventories of the stockpiles at Hill Air Force Base, Wynne said, which will be investigated by Donald’s team.

Taiwan has a cruise missile program that started to take shape over the past few years, said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. A cruise missile capable of striking Shanghai or Hong Kong was successfully test fired in March 2007.

The Taiwanese military tried to develop a ballistic missile in the 1970s with the help of the Israelis, but those plans were scrapped by 1981. Taiwan continues to try to design a space launch vehicle to deploy satellites, which could quickly be redesigned to serve as a ballistic missile, but it has yet to demonstrate the capability, Kristensen said.

Wynne said U.S. officials are looking into whether any treaties were violated by the mistaken shipment, but the transport of helicopter batteries was not illegal.

A request for comment to the Chinese Embassy was not returned by press time.


Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...enukes_032508/
Related reading: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...eparts_032608/

[CommunityEditor]

BEIJING — China on Wednesday strongly protested the U.S. military’s mistaken delivery to Taiwan of intercontinental ballistic missile electrical fuses, demanding an investigation and steps to “eliminate the negative effects and disastrous consequences.”

In a statement posted on the ministry’s Web site, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China had brought a “serious representation” to Washington and expressed “strong displeasure” over the error.

The U.S. Defense Department said Tuesday that the Air Force had mistakenly shipped to Taiwan four electrical fuses designed for use on intercontinental ballistic missiles. The fuses have since been recovered and an investigation launched.

While the shipment did not include nuclear materials, the error is particularly sensitive because Beijing vehemently opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governed island that China considers its own territory. Four of the cone-shaped fuses were shipped to Taiwanese officials in fall 2006 instead of the helicopter batteries they had ordered.

“We ... demand the U.S. side thoroughly investigate this matter, and report to China in a timely matter the details of the situation and eliminate the negative effects and disastrous consequences created by this incident,” the statement said.

Qin again demanded an end to such weapons sales and military-to-military contacts between Washington and Taipei in order to “avoid damaging peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the healthy development of China-U.S. relations.”


Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...istake_032608/

[CommunityEditor]

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered a full inventory of all nuclear weapons and related materials after the mistaken delivery of ballistic missile fuses to Taiwan, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Gates told officials with the Air Force, Navy and Defense Logistics Agency to assess inventory control procedures for the materials and to submit a report within 60 days.

Earlier this week, Gates directed Navy Adm. Kirkland H. Donald to take charge of a full investigation of the delivery mistake in which four cone-shaped electrical fuses used in intercontinental ballistic missile warheads were shipped to the Taiwanese instead of the helicopter batteries they had ordered.

The fuses were delivered in fall 2006 but the military did not fully realize the gravity of the blunder until last week, triggering sharp protests from China and forcing President Bush to acknowledge the error in a phone call Wednesday with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

While the shipment did not contain nuclear materials, the error is particularly sensitive because China vehemently opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. U.S. officials were quick to say that the incident did not suggest any change in policies toward Taiwan arms sales.

But China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said, in a statement posted on the agency’s Web site, that China had sent a protest to Washington expressing “strong displeasure.”

He said China demanded the U.S. investigate the matter and report back to China to “eliminate the negative effects and disastrous consequences created by this incident.”

Despite quarterly checks of the inventory, defense officials said they never knew the fuses were gone. Only after months of discussions with Taiwan over the missing batteries did the Pentagon finally realize — late last week — the seriousness of what had happened.

During that time, according to a senior Taiwan defense official, the U.S. initially asked Taiwan to dispose of the missile fuses. U.S. officials said that early on it was thought the Taiwanese had simply received the wrong batteries.

Once the error was discovered, the military quickly recovered the four fuses, which are linked to the triggering mechanisms in Minuteman nuclear missile nose cones. But Gates has demanded sweeping reviews to discover how it happened and whether it indicates a broader problem in the security of the military’s nuclear weapons and related materials.

This is the second nuclear-related mistake involving the military in recent months. In August, an Air Force B-52 bomber was mistakenly armed with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and flown from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to Barksdale Air Force Base, La. At the time, the pilot and crew were unaware they had nuclear arms aboard.

In his memo released Thursday, Gates ordered a physical inventory of all nuclear related items. Donald, whose assessment is separate from the agencies’ inventories, must provide Gates with an initial report by April 15.

Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/20...rdered_032708/

[CommunityEditor]

A day after the Defense Department announced it mistakenly shipped secret ballistic missile components, China expressed its “strong displeasure” over the error and it was revealed that Taiwanese officials were originally told to destroy the fuses.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne said at a press conference Tuesday the Air Force sent Taiwan in August 2006 four fuses designed to trigger Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles instead of batteries for helicopters the U.S. originally planned to send.

Airmen shipped the four fuses encased in Minuteman III nose cones back in March 2005 from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., to the Defense Logistics Agency warehouse at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, since F.E. Warren was overstocked, Wynne said.

But instead of securing the fuses in classified storage areas, Principle Deputy Undersecretary for Defense Ryan Henry said the airmen stored the fuses at an unclassified site.

More than a year later, airmen at Hill took the fuses out of storage and shipped them to Taiwan. The Taiwanese military placed the boxed fuses in storage thinking they were helicopter batteries, a Pentagon official said, who asked not to use his name since the incident is under investigation.

Months after received the boxes, all four were opened and Taiwanese officials reported the mistaken shipment to U.S. leaders. The U.S. first asked Taiwan to destroy the equipment instead of returning it to the U.S. Once Air Force leaders found out the equipment was actually the ballistic missile fuses, Taiwan was asked to immediately return them to U.S. control.

“Within hours of us receiving the order to recover the item, Taiwan identified the location where the items were stored and allowed U.S. personnel to gain access and control,” a U.S. source said. “Their cooperation did not stop there. At unprecedented speed, they approved flight clearance, which enabled us to transport the items back to the U.S.”

The President and Secretary of Defense were both briefed about the shipment and airmen immediately rushed to return the fuses to U.S. control. All four fuses now reside at a base on U.S. soil.

“I cannot emphasize forcefully enough how strong the secretary feels about this matter and how disconcerting it is to him,” Henry said.

China demanded the U.S. conduct an investigation into the matter in a statement posted on their Foreign Ministry website. “We express our serious concern and strong dissatisfaction with this and have made solemn representations to the American side,” said the statement.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates launched an investigation Wednesday headed by Admiral Kirkland Donald, director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion, into who was responsible for the mistake and what caused it. In an official memo, Gates specified he wanted an initial assessment by April 15 and a final report within the next 60 days.

The missing fuses should have been accounted for during quarterly inventories of the stockpiles at Hill Air Force Base, Wynne said, which will be investigated by Donald’s team. The investigation will also look into if any tampering was done to the fuses while they were out of U.S. control.

Taiwan has a cruise missile program that started to take shape over the past few years, said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. A cruise missile capable of striking Shanghai or Hong Kong was successfully test fired in March 2007.

The Taiwanese military tried to develop a ballistic missile in the 1970s with the help of the Israelis, but those plans were scrapped by 1981. Taiwan continues to try to design a space launch vehicle to deploy satellites, which could quickly be redesigned to serve as a ballistic missile, but it has yet to demonstrate the capability, Kristensen said.

Wynne said U.S. officials are looking into whether any treaties were violated by the mistaken shipment, but the transport of helicopter batteries was not illegal.


Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/20...uses3_032708w/

[CommunityEditor]

Secret fuses designed to trigger nuclear ballistic missiles were sent to Taiwan, where they spent more than 18 months unaccounted for under foreign control before U.S. officials found out March 20 what had been lost.

The gravity of the error was so great, President Bush had to admit the mistake to the Chinese government.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne announced at a March 25 news conference that in August 2006, the Defense Department mistakenly shipped to Taiwan four fuses designed to trigger Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, rather than batteries for Taiwanese UH-1 Huey helicopters the U.S. had intended to send.

Once the mistake was revealed, Defense Secretary Robert Gates immediately launched an investigation — led by a Navy admiral instead of an Air Force general — that comes just eight months after he ordered a similarly embarrassing investigation of an incident in which airmen accidentally ferried six nuclear warheads across the country on a B-52 Stratofortress.

Gates also ordered a Defense Department-wide inventory of nuclear weapons and related materials, telling the Air Force, Navy and Defense Logistics Agency to assess inventory control procedures for the materials and to submit a report within 60 days.

But the details as to who made the mistakes and when — leading to the 18-month gap in accountability — were murky at the news conference. Air Force Times has put together a rough timeline of events that led to discovery of the error March 20.

Airmen initially shipped the four fuses, encased in Mark-12 nose cones designed for ICBMs, from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., to the Defense Logistics Agency warehouse at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, in March 2005, Wynne said. F.E. Warren was overstocked with the fuses.

Instead of securing the fuses in classified storage areas, Wynne said, the fuses were stored at an unclassified site. It’s unclear if airmen or contractors placed the fuses in unclassified storage; since 2002, Hill has contracted out storage and distribution of aircraft and missile parts to EG&G, a private company. EG&G officials declined to comment to Air Force Times as to their responsibility in the matter.

More than a year later, in August 2006, the fuses stored in four drum-shaped packages were taken out of storage and shipped to Taiwan under the assumption the packages contained helicopter batteries, Wynne said. The Taiwanese military then placed the packaged fuses in storage.

Members of the Taiwanese military opened the four packages months later and reported the mistaken shipment to U.S. leaders. According to a Pentagon official who asked to remain anonymous because the incident is under investigation, American officials first asked Taiwan to destroy the equipment instead of returning it, assuming the Defense Department had simply shipped the wrong kind of batteries.

Taiwan reported back to the U.S. that it couldn’t destroy the equipment because the inside of the packaging contained secret classifications and markings that indicated doing so would be dangerous, the official said. On March 20, Defense Department officials asked the Taiwanese to read off the part numbers on the packaging, which is when they realized the equipment was, in fact, secret ballistic missile fuses.

U.S. officials asked Taiwan to immediately secure them so Americans could pick them up and return the fuses to the U.S. They now reside at an undisclosed Air Force base in the continental U.S., Defense Department spokesman Stewart Upton said.

The Defense Department briefed the president and defense secretary March 26 about the shipment. “I cannot emphasize forcefully enough how strong the secretary feels about this matter and how disconcerting it is to him,” Ryan Henry, principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, said March 25.

China, which has continually asked the U.S. to stop shipping military supplies to Taiwan, demanded the U.S. conduct an investigation into the matter in a statement posted on its Foreign Ministry Web site.

“We express our serious concern and strong dissatisfaction with this and have made solemn representations to the American side,” the statement read.

Bush spoke to Chinese President Hu Jintao about the incident March 26 during a phone call and explained the mistake. “It came up very briefly, and basically the president indicated that a mistake had been made,” said National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, who went on to say the discussion was brief.

While no nuclear material was shipped to Taiwan, the fuses connect directly to the nuclear warhead mounted on an ICBM, which arms the weapon during the re-entry phase of the missile’s path and detonates the warhead.

Taiwan also had access to examine the secret coating the U.S. uses to line the outside of its ICBM nose cones to allow ballistic missiles to survive re-entry from space.

“It’s a high-tech material, and we spent a lot of money developing this material to be thin and strong in order to sustain re-entry,” said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. “Getting your hands on material like this is an important step to creating a re-entry vehicle.”

Taiwan has a cruise missile program that started to take shape over the past few years, Kristensen said. A cruise missile capable of striking Shanghai or Hong Kong was successfully test fired in March 2007.

The Taiwanese military tried to develop a ballistic missile in the 1970s with the help of the Israelis, but those plans were scrapped by 1981. Taiwan continues to try to design a space launch vehicle but it has yet to demonstrate the capability, Kristensen said.

“The fact it was Taiwan is notable not just because of China, but Taiwan was once in pursuit of nuclear weapons, and the United States spent a great deal of political and diplomatic energy dissuading the Taiwanese from pursuing that path.”

Wynne said U.S. officials are looking into whether any treaties were violated by the mistaken shipment, but clarified that the transport of helicopter batteries fell under approved treaties.

“Our policy on Taiwan arm sales have not changed,” Henry said at the news conference. “This specific incident was an error in process only and is not indicative of our policies, which remain unchanged.”

The fuses are listed as Category 1 items under the Missile Technology Control Regime, an agreement signed by 34 countries, including the U.S. and China, to restrict the exportation of missiles and major subsystems.

However, since the U.S. has said this was a mistake and not an intentional shipment, it would not go against the agreement, said Darryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association.

Also, based on the knowledge the Defense Department has now, the shipment didn’t violate either START or the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, Upton said.

Gates launched an investigation March 25 headed by Adm. Kirkland Donald, director of naval nuclear propulsion, into who was responsible for the mistake and what caused it. In a memo, Gates specified he wanted an initial assessment by April 15 and a final report within the next 60 days.

The missing fuses should have been accounted for during quarterly inventories of the stockpiles at Hill Air Force Base, Wynne said. That process will be investigated by Donald’s team.

While U.S. officials say they have no reason to believe the fuses were tampered with while they were out of U.S. control, the investigation will also look at that.

“We are all taking this very seriously. And [although] it ... could not be construed as being nuclear material, it is a component for ... the fuse and the nose cone for a nuclear system,” Wynne said. “And so I would tell you that we are very concerned about it.”


Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...fuses_032808w/


Four non-nuclear nose cone assemblies, like the one shown, and their associated electrical components for a ballistic missile were mistakenly shipped to Taiwan in the fall of 2006.

[The Universal Curmudgeon_guest]

Originally Posted by CommunityEditor

... Taiwan also had access to examine the secret coating the U.S. uses to line the outside of its ICBM nose cones to allow ballistic missiles to survive re-entry from space.

“It’s a high-tech material, and we spent a lot of money developing this material to be thin and strong in order to sustain re-entry,” said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. “Getting your hands on material like this is an important step to creating a re-entry vehicle.”

Taiwan has a cruise missile program that started to take shape over the past few years, Kristensen said. A cruise missile capable of striking Shanghai or Hong Kong was successfully test fired in March 2007.

...

The missing fuses should have been accounted for during quarterly inventories of the stockpiles at Hill Air Force Base, Wynne said. That process will be investigated by Donald’s team.

And, of course, the Taiwanese didn't even notice that their batteries hadn't arrived.

I do hope that no one will be offended if I find the statements from BOTH the Taiwanese and American governments rather suspect.

It is appalling, to say the least when all of the nuclear/missile SNAFU's happen on Bush's watch. It is also appalling to me that the US Strategic Command at Offutt AFB, the self-appointed nuke weapons guru's of the world (along with appointing themselves King and Ruler of every other mission under the sun) has continually refused to take responsibility for the B-52 nuclear weapons overflight last year and now this new development of the lost ballistic fuses for the last 2 years.

At the same time, the global bullies at US Strategic Command tried to take credit for the shootdown of the falling toxic satellite this year. We all know the Navy accomplished that, not anyone from US Strategic Command. The Navy has rebuked them; the MDA has rebuked them, also.

In the last two nuke/missile issues, US Strategic Command not only refused to take responsibility, but blamed the nuclear/missile mistakes on the Air Force, which is US Strategic Command's executive agent. US Strategic Command continously wants to have their cake and eat it, too. After the investigations are over, I hope the Navy Admiral that SecDef Gates appointed as overseer of the lost ballistic fuses will have the guts and fortitude to call a spade a spade, and identify the US Strategic Command as the weakest link in the defense of our country.

In the last two nuke/missile issues, US Strategic Command not only refused to take responsibility, but blamed the nuclear/missile mistakes on the Air Force, which is US Strategic Command's executive agent. US Strategic Command continously wants to have their cake and eat it, too. After the investigations are over, I hope the Navy Admiral that SecDef Gates appointed as overseer of the lost ballistic fuses will have the guts and fortitude to call a spade a spade, and identify the US Strategic Command as the weakest link in the defense of our country.[/quote]


I have always admired an optimist, but if the day comes when the U.S. Strategic Command admits a mistake or error and takes responsibility, I will send you the biggest gold medal to optimism I can fin.

Originally Posted by The Universal Curmudgeon_guest

And, of course, the Taiwanese didn't even notice that their batteries hadn't arrived.

I do hope that no one will be offended if I find the statements from BOTH the Taiwanese and American governments rather suspect.

Try reading instead of jerking the ole knee.

The Tiawanese ordered, among other things, four helicopter batteries. The U.S. shipped them, among other things, what they mistakenly thought were four helicopter batteries. Remember, the items are in packages, so no one is seeing what is actually inside. The Tiawanese receive what they thought were four helicopter batteries and put them into stock storage. Some time later, when they need one of the batteries, they open the box and, gee, it's not what they ordered. They open all of the boxes and none of them are what they ordered. They contact the U.S. wanting their missing batteries. The U.S. assumes that it simply shipped the wrong kind of battery and asks the Tiawanese to dispose of them locally instead of shipping them back at considerable expense. The Tiawanese try to comply but the markings are very confusing and so they ask for guidance on how to proceed. Finally the key clues from half a world away get exposes to someone that askes the right question and it becomes known what was actually shipped. From that point the items are back in U.S. custody within hours.

What is so amazingly hard to believe about that chain of events? People get shipped the wrong thing every day. Unlike most consumers, most companies and organizations order in bulk and maintain some kind of a stock. A mis-shipped item, especially if it is mis-marked, may take years to catch.

[CrustySMSgt]

Just found this story


MSNBC.com


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Generals disciplined in U.S. nuclear mistake
6 Air Force, 2 Army generals reprimanded over fuse shipment to Taiwan
The Associated Press
updated 8:24 p.m. ET Sept. 24, 2008
WASHINGTON - 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.

Study blasts management of nukes
A second, broader study released this month blistered the Air Force for a dramatic deterioration in managing the nation's nuclear arsenal and recommended that it consolidate nuclear responsibilities under one command.

Pentagon reviews of the shipping incident revealed that the fuses were sent to Taiwan rather than the helicopter batteries that had been ordered.

The fuses were in four shipping containers sent in March 2005 from an Air Force base in the Western state of Wyoming to a Defense Logistics Agency warehouse at an Air Force base in Utah, just southwest of Wyoming. The shipment was then in the logistics agency's control and was delivered to Taiwan "on or around" August 2006, according to a Gates memo ordering the internal investigation.

The disciplinary letters are considered administrative punishments and in some cases stay on a service member's record only for a year or two. They are considered a damaging career blow, however, and can lead to pay cuts or prevent officers from gaining another star or higher command.

While no nuclear materials were in the shipment, the error was particularly sensitive because China vehemently opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. When the shipment was made public, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman said that China had sent a protest to Washington expressing "strong displeasure."

U.S. officials were quick to say that the incident did not suggest any change in policies toward Taiwan arms sales.

The shipping error followed another nuclear-related incident involving the Air Force. In August 2007, an Air Force B-52 bomber was mistakenly armed with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and flown from an Air Force base near the Canadian border across several states to Louisiana on the Gulf of Mexico. The pilot and crew were unaware they had armed nuclear weapons aboard.

In the aftermath of the problems, Gates brought in new leadership for the Air Force, who vowed to restore confidence in the beleaguered service.

So far they have made a number of adjustments, including an increase in high-level staff, a reorganization of its missile units, revised maintenance procedures and a continuing review of the inspection process. The Air Force also is budgeting about $1.5 billion to deal with some of the issues.


Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26876599/


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