nuclear-news

Report on errors in nuclear missile incident is classified ‘secret’

US airmen damage nuclear missile as ‘troubleshooting’ mission goes wrong, Guardian, 23 Jan 16 
The air force stripped the three airmen of their nuclear certification following the incident in 2014 and quietly launched an accident investigation. Errors by three airmen troubleshooting a nuclear missile in its launch silo in 2014 triggered a “mishap” that damaged the missile, prompting the Air Force to strip the airmen of their nuclear certification and quietly launch an accident investigation.

In a statement, the Air Force declined to provide details of the incident or a copy of the report produced last November by the Accident Investigation Board, saying the information was classified and too sensitive to be made public.

Under the Air Force’s own regulations, Accident Investigation Board reports are supposed to be made public. The Air Force did release a brief summary to the Associated Press after it repeatedly sought answers for more than a year. The summary said the full report was classified by General Robin Rand, who took over as commander of Air Force Global Strike Command in July 2015……..

The accident follows a period of turmoil inside the nuclear missile corps amid an emerging national debate about the costs and benefits of investing hundreds of billions of dollars to modernize the entire strategic nuclear force at a time when war craft is changing………..

The investigation report summary said the actual cause of the accident, established by “clear and convincing evidence,” is classified. ……http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/23/us-airmen-damage-nuclear-missile-as-troubleshooting-mission-goes-wrong

January 23, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA