Global Security Newswire

The governor of Nebraska yesterday asked the Obama administration to conduct an independent investigation of the U.S. Air Force's recommendation to operate its Global Strike Command at a base in Louisiana (see GSN, April 3).

The plan itself should be suspended pending an inquiry, according to Governor Dave Heineman.

"This decision doesn't pass the smell test," he said in a letter to President Barack Obama.

Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska received the highest evaluation score among the six sites considered for the new command that will manage the service's nuclear mission, according to the governor's office. It received an 89 out of a possible 100, which was eight points higher than the chosen location, Barksdale Air Force Base, Heineman said.

"Why wasn't Offutt Air Force Base selected as the new Global Strike Command since it received the highest evaluation score?" he stated in the letter. "What role did internal Department of Defense and Department of Air Force politics play in this decision? Were there other political considerations that impacted this decision?" (Governor Dave Heineman release, April 6).

Nebraska's two U.S. senators, Ben Nelson (D) and Mike Johanns (R), last week also sought an explanation from the Air Force for the decision, joining the chorus of disapproval from officials in states that did not receive the recommendation (Paul Hammel, Omaha World-Herald, April 6).

The Air Force said last week that it preferred Barksdale because of its "ability to provide significant nuclear mission synergy." An environmental impact study must be conducted before the decision becomes official (U.S. Air Force release, April 2).