Serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis. © James Conner.
Thirty-four Force Officers responsible for launching nuclear missiles at Malmstrom Air Force base at Great Falls have been accused of cheating on monthly proficiency tests.
Apparently, the officers used cell phones to share answers via text messages. And weren’t even smart enough to cover their tracks.
According to an Air Force general, there’s nothing to worry about:
Defense officials insisted that the nation’s nuclear arsenal remained safe.
“This is not about the compromise of nuclear weapons,” said Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, the Air Force chief of staff. He called the revelations a “compromise of the integrity of some of our airmen” and said the Air Force “will not accept or allow that type of behavior.”
If you believe that, you’ll believe anything.
There’s plenty to worry about. Malmstrom suffers scandal after scandal involving nuclear weapons. There may be Air Force personnel stationed there who are honest, hard working, and proficient — but if there are, they are not the officers in charge.
If this continues, something dangerous will happen. Terrorists who read American newspapers must be asking whether they can take advantage of the stupidity, incompetence, and recklessness that plague Malmstrom’s nuclear operations.
There are only two solutions:
This is Chuck Hagel’s call. He needs to establish accountability. And he should start by firing the Air Force’s chief of staff.