Gates Examines Report on Missile Fuse Error

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is studying the results of a wide-ranging probe into his department’s management of nuclear weapons equipment, including the accidental shipment of Air Force missile fuses to Taiwan, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, March 27).

Along with the report and a briefing, Gates has also received recommendations from Navy Adm. Kirkland Donald regarding the transfer and wider procedures for handling sensitive U.S. nuclear materials, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said yesterday.

It remains unclear whether Donald, who led the probe, called for disciplinary action against anyone involved in sending the cone-shaped electronic ICBM components to Taiwan in place of helicopter batteries.

After the Pentagon learned of the mishap in March, Gates demanded a complete inventory of all U.S. nuclear weapons and related materials (see GSN, March 28).  He also ordered the Air Force, the Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency to report within 60 days on current procedures for managing the nuclear-weapon holdings (Lolita Baldor, Associated Press/Google News, May 28).

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