U.S. to Conduct Complete Nuclear Weapons Inventory

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has demanded a full-scale audit of all U.S. nuclear weapons and related technology after learning last week that the Pentagon mistakenly shipped four nuclear missile fuses to Taiwan in 2006, the Washington Post reported today (see GSN, March 27).

Gates ordered the Defense Logistics Agency, the Air Force and the Navy “to verify positive control and accountability” of all nuclear weapons and related materials within 60 days (Josh White, Washington Post, March 28).

“At a minimum, your report should include the results of the inventory and your personal assessment of the adequacy of your respective department or agency's positive inventory control policies and procedures,” the defense secretary said in a memo (Barbara Starr, CNN, March 27).

Defense officials said the inventory was ordered in response to the “extremely embarrassing” missile fuse incident, which came to light while the Pentagon was still dealing with fallout from the accidental flight of six nuclear-armed cruise missiles across the country last August, the Post reported (see GSN, Nov. 8, 2007).

The United States sent the electronic ICBM components to Taiwan in place of helicopter batteries despite rigorous command-and-control procedures governing all U.S. nuclear weapon materials. 

The blunder remained undiscovered for 1 1/2 years until Taiwan informed Washington last week that it had received classified warhead technology.  Gates has already ordered a probe of the incident.

“This is about the trust and confidence of the American people and our stewardship of the most dangerous weapons in the world,” said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell.  “Getting to the bottom of this incident and ensuring our nuclear arsenal and associated components are properly safeguarded must be a top priority of this department.  Secretary Gates believes this situation is totally and completely unacceptable.”

U.S. Representative Edward Markey (D-Mass.), co-chairman of the House Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation, said the fuse incident draws attention to the Pentagon’s need to reform its management of nuclear materials (see GSN, March 27).

“Otherwise, we run the risk that the next time our sensitive equipment ends up in the wrong hands, it won't simply be a matter of ‘return to sender,’” Markey said in a statement (White, Washington Post, March 28).

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