The possibility of such mistakes was clearly on the Air Force radar, and officials had already decided to set up a Nuclear Weapons Center. But when the possibilities became actualities, the Air Force was shaken to its core. The top civilian and military leaders were dismissed.
The errors also underlined the vital importance of adequate support for the new center's mission: ensuring strong stewardship and responsible logistics management of the nuclear arsenal. Enter Kirtland Air Force Base and New Mexico's experts.
When the center's Brig. Gen. Everett H. Thomas says he's "going to be the Wal-Mart for all nuclear weapons for the United States Air Force" he's not talking about everyday low prices -- he's talking about 288 new personnel "with the right experience" to operate as everything from nuclear engineers to clerical workers. It's a plus to have Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Labs and the Air Force Research Lab talent pools to draw from.
Critics may say the errors prove it's past time to get rid of nuclear weapons. But Thomas rightly points out they are part of the country's arsenal and must be secure. And while part of the arsenal, they must also be viable -- especially in light of nuclear arms reduction, congressional reluctance to fund nuclear weapons research and the fact "we haven't produced a nuclear weapon since the early '80s."
It's an added bonus that a military base once targeted for shuttering has found job security in playing "a very critical role in national security."
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