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U.S. Space Command reveals fire at nuclear missile silo : NewsHerald.com

U.S. Space Command reveals fire at nuclear missile silo

NEWSHERALD November 17, 2008

By Tom Roeder

Freedom Newspapers

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A fire in a Wyoming missile silo last spring exposed more problems in the oversight of the nation’s nuclear ICBM fleet………………………

The command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, released an accident investigation report on the silo fire Oct. 30, but had made no previous announcement of the incident. The Air Force has been under fire for months for failure to properly safeguard nuclear weapons in other incidents that led to the firing of the service’s top civilian and military leaders and discipline for several officers linked to nuclear problems.

The fire occurred May 23 at an undisclosed location outside Cheyenne, Wyo, where the Minuteman III missile is stored, ready for firing in an underground launch facility……………

John Pike, a nuclear expert with the think-tank GlobalSecurity.org said that the findings or the accident investigation, which revealed that duct tape was being used as a repair material in the silo, are cause for serious concern.

“The notion that you’re patching up your H-bombs with duct tape is not encouraging,” Pike said. “You also have to wonder if you have this sloppy activity that is revealed by a fire happened, how much other sloppy activity has not detected.”

U.S. Space Command reveals fire at nuclear missile silo : NewsHerald.com

Tags: nuclear, antinuclear, radioactive, uranium

November 17, 2008 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety