The Air Force has come down hard on 70 people involved in the mis-handling of nuclear weapons, resulting in a B-52 unknowingly transporting them across the US.
Here is the full story if you want to read it.
The following things are striking about this:
- This incident occurred on 8/30/07, and appeared in MSM articles by 9/5/07, based on tips from military peronnel to Military Times.
- By 9/7/07, disciplinary action was already announced, with the base commander suspended pending a full investigation.
- An thorough investigation was promptly initiated and concluded 10/19/2007.
- People up and down the chain of command appear to be held accountable for this mistake, including 5 officers.
It's easy to see nuclear weapons being mishandled and realize the vast potential for catastrophe. The Air Force's response to what was clearly a major breakdown seemed swift, appropriate, and reasonable. I was struck by a weird sense of disbelief reading this story: the military can actually make a mistake, admit it, and fix it? They don't just blame a few grunts but actually go after ranking officers?
The biggest question I am left with: Where was this accountability after Abu Ghraib?