The two top Air Force personnel were asked to resign over the mishandling of nuclear bombs and parts at Minot Air Force Base. The problems at Minot are not the only challenges faced by the Air Force.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley, the top military official of the Air Force, and Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne , the top civilian official of the Air Force, have been asked to resign by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The resignation request is in response to the lack of competency and accountability over two incident involving United States nuclear arms.
The first incident happened in August of 2006 when nuclear missile tips were sent to Taiwan from Minot AFB instead of the requested Helicopter parts. The mistake was not uncovered till March 2007. The second mistake happened last year when 3 nuclear tipped missiles were loaded on a B52 bomber and transported from Minot AFB to Barksdale AFB.
The two heads of staff for the Air Force were at a meeting at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio when the news came. They were given the two options to either resign, or fired. By resigning they will keep the benefits they have earned after years of working for the United States military. Both chose to resign; Moseley
resigned after a terminal leave staring today with resignation effective August 1, 2008. Wynne resigned immediately mid meeting at Wright Patterson.
Robert Gates says his decision was solely based on the report from Navy Admiral Kirkland Donald. In a statement today he said:
"The focus of the Air Force leadership has drifted with respect to, perhaps, its most sensitive mission,'' Gates said at a Pentagon news conference today. ``We needed a change of leadership to bring a new perspective and especially to underscore the importance of accountability.''
"Individuals in command and leadership positions not only fell short in terms of specific actions, they failed to recognize systemic problems, to address those problems or where, beyond their authority to act, to call the attention of superiors to those problems.''
Some speculation exists about the statement that the two resignations today will not be the only disciplinary actions that will be handed out.
Top Air Force Officials Forced to Resign over Minot Nuclear Incident
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