Air Force Dealt Major Shakeup

Defense Secretary Accepts Resignations of Air Force's Military, Civilian Leaders

(CBS/ AP)  Defense Secretary Robert Gates ousted the Air Force's top military and civilian leaders Thursday, holding them to account in a historic Pentagon shake-up after embarrassing nuclear mix-ups.

Gates announced at a news conference that he had accepted the resignations of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley and Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne - a highly unusual double firing, reports CBS News correspondent David Martin.

"I believe these actions are required because … the focus of the air force leadership has drifted with respect to perhaps its most sensitive mission," said Gates.

Gates said his decision was based mainly on the damning conclusions of an internal report on the mistaken shipment to Taiwan of four Air Force electrical fuses for ballistic missile warheads. And he linked the underlying causes of that slip-up to another startling incident: the flight last August of a B-52 bomber that was mistakenly armed with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles.

The report drew the stunning conclusion that the Air Force's nuclear standards have been in a long decline, a "problem that has been identified but not effectively addressed for over a decade."

Gates said an internal investigation found a common theme in the B-52 and Taiwan incidents: "a decline in the Air Force's nuclear mission focus and performance" and a failure by Air Force leaders to respond effectively.

In a reflection of his concern about the state of nuclear security, Gates said he had asked a former defense secretary, James Schlesinger, to lead a task force that will recommend ways to ensure that the highest levels of accountability and control are maintained in Air Force handling of nuclear weapons.

In somber tones, Gates told reporters his decision to remove Wynne and Moseley was based on the findings of an investigation of the Taiwan debacle by Adm. Kirkland Donald. The admiral found a "lack of a critical self-assessment culture" in the Air Force nuclear program, making it unlikely that weaknesses in the way critical materials such as nuclear weapons are handled could be corrected, Gates said.

Gates said Donald concluded that many of the problems that led to the B-52 and the Taiwan sale incidents "have been known or should have been known."

The Donald report is classified; Gates provided an oral summary.

"The Taiwan incident clearly was the trigger," Gates said when asked whether Moseley and Wynne would have retained their positions in the absence of the mistaken shipment of fuses. He also said that Donald found a "lack of effective Air Force leadership oversight" of its nuclear mission.

The investigation found a declining trend in Air Force nuclear expertise - not the first time that has been raised as a problem, Gates said - and a drifting of the Air Force's focus away from its nuclear mission, which includes stewardship of the land-based missile component of the nation's nuclear arsenal, as well as missiles and bombs assigned for nuclear missions aboard B-52 and B-2 long-range bombers.

Gates also announced that "a substantial number" of Air Force general officers and colonels were identified in the Donald report as potentially subject to disciplinary measures that range from removal from command to letters of reprimand. He said he would direct the yet-to-be-named successors to Wynne and Moseley to evaluate those identified culprits and decide what disciplinary actions are warranted - "or whether they can be part of the solution" to the problems found by Donald.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said President Bush knew about the resignations but that the White House had "not played any role" in the shake-up.

Early reaction from Capitol Hill was favorable to drastic action.

"Secretary Gates' focus on accountability is essential and had been absent from the office of the secretary of defense for too long," said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "The safety and security of America' nuclear weapons must receive the highest priority, just as it must in other countries."

Gates said he would make recommendations to Bush shortly on a new Air Force chief of staff and civilian secretary. Gates has settled on candidates for both jobs but has not yet formally recommended them, one official said.

Gen. Duncan J. McNabb is the current Air Force vice chief of staff.

Moseley, who commanded coalition air forces during the initial invasion of Iraq in March 2003, became Air Force chief in September 2005; Wynne, a former General Dynamics executive, took office in November 2005.

Wynne is the second civilian chief of a military service to be forced out by Gates. In March 2007 the defense secretary pushed out Francis Harvey, the Army secretary, because Gates was dissatisfied with Harvey's handling of revelations of inadequate housing conditions and bureaucratic delays for troops recovering from war wounds at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Wynne and Moseley issued their own written statements.

"As the Air Force's senior uniformed leader, I take full responsibility for events which have hurt the Air Force's reputation or raised a question of every airman's commitment to our core values," Moseley said.

Wynne said he "read with regret" the findings of the Donald report.

[deacon20081]

And the Plot Thickens. Interesting development.
Did they say no to going it alone against Iran?
Interesting indeed.

[stn_sage]

SOMETHING is going on here! If they were being fired for the aforementioned mistakes, they''d already be gone! So, it''s about something else!

How about possibly selling secret information about classified technology to other government(s) or something like that, perhaps?!

Well, someday when the public isn''t looking, some curt, short article will appear on the back page of a newspaper or for an hour or two on an internet site, with an equally curt, short statement of what they did, THEN a few people will find out about it, huh?!

[inventagod2]

The Pentagoons are removing all civilian oversight in preparation for the Master Plan...

''Press secretary Dana Perino said President Bush knew about the resignations but that the White House "has not played any role" in the shake-up.''

(yeah, right...''

[randynason]

Heads are rolling, but not the right ones. Look deeper inside the Pentagon, Mr Watson.

[vnveteran72]

Ah Oh,....Someone wasn''t wearing enough Swastikas or Goose-Stepping High Enough.....LMMFAO

Have to install the SS personnel in preperation for "Operation Enduring Fascism".......
Get ready for False Flag/9/11 #2......
Shrub and Darth have seen Pappy''s Polling numbers, and things aren''t looking good......

[underdogus]

WE WILL ATTACK IRAN B.astards GET READY!!

[gopsoccermom]

Maybe President George the Blessed will have to declare Marshall Law upon the land to restore order.

[shingles1]

stn_sage, oh it''s totally about something else.

Iran.

[stn_sage]

One thing you CAN be sure about: these guys are getting fired BECAUSE the White House---Bush & Cheney---want them gone! For whatever reason.

And in typical Bush/Cheney mode, they don''t want to take ANY responsibility for doing it!

[vnveteran72]

There was no immediate word on who would be nominated to replace Moseley and Wynne.

Press secretary Dana Perino said President Bush knew about the resignations but that the White House "has not played any role" in the shake-up.

I''ve got Bridges and swamp Land for anyone believing this crapp......LMMFAO......

[shoebox119]

Why stop with just these two goons? Gates'' head should roll, too, all the way into the Oval Office.

[smurfcrusher]

Perhaps the USAF leadership isn''t stupid enough to start another needless war (with Iran).

I feel for you guys, I''ve had some pretty stupid bosses in my career, too.

[stn_sage]

stn_sage, oh it''''s totally about something else.

Iran.

Posted by shingles1 at 01:57 PM : Jun 05, 2008
----------------------
My response: That''s probably it! But, I hate to say it for fear of it coming true!

[smurfcrusher]

King George et. al. likely weren''t responsible for the firings.

I would speculate that when they balked at King George''s ambitious Next Steps and Strategy, they were canned by Defense Secretary Robert Gates so they could get people in position that ARE stupid enough to move forward with the plan.

[impeach_w]

Press secretary Dana Perino said President Bush knew about the resignations but that the White House "has not played any role" in the shake-up.

IT EVEN SOUNDS LIKE A LIE.

[sgtrds-e4]

The administration is clearing out any civilians and generals that would be opposed to their plans to invade Iran and replacing them with more compliant ones.

[stn_sage]

Why stop with just these two goons? Gates'''' head should roll, too, all the way into the Oval Office.

Posted by shoebox119 at 01:59 PM : Jun 05, 2008
-------------------
My response: TRUE! But, geez, if you get rid of Gates, you don''t have much left, do you?! I mean,
Bush/Cheney have made no effort to appoint competent personnel anywhere in govt, probably for fear that someone might then act independently WITHOUT first funneling it through THEM!

[sgtrds-e4]

When Dana Perino holds her head just right you can actually hear the wind whistling through her ears.

[soldierboy37]

deacon20081,stn_sage,Inventagod2,vnveteran72- Do any of you clowns realize how seriously messed up the events were that led to these guys getting fired?
"Master Plan"???? Come on! You people sound so ridiculous. You all better get off your computers and run for the hills. Give me a break!

[vnveteran72]

Perhaps the USAF leadership isn''''t stupid enough to start another needless war (with Iran).

I feel for you guys, I''''ve had some pretty stupid bosses in my career, too.


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Posted by Smurfcrusher at 02:00 PM : Jun 05, 2008
+ report abuse

Orders were issued from Neocon Nazi Headquarters, and Field Marshal Heinrich Gates saluted and said, "Ja Wohl, Mein Fuhrer"!!!

These guys won''t go into the Bunker without a fight, so I guess we''ll have to go in and take them out the hard way.....let the Impeachment Process begin....

[joelbuckley2]

What we really need is a new commander-in-chief.

[bookout2]

That Perino reveal was the best. Hear the air
whistling through her hears? Ha, ha, ha, ha, and Hee.

[vnveteran72]

deacon20081,stn_sage,Inventagod2,vnveter
an72- Do any of you clowns realize how seriously messed up the events were that led to these guys getting fired?
"Master Plan"???? Come on! You people sound so ridiculous. You all better get off your computers and run for the hills. Give me a break!


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Posted by soldierboy37 at 02:09 PM : Jun 05, 2008
+ report abuse

And yet another delusional puppet opines.....LOL...

[vnveteran72]

When Dana Perino holds her head just right you can actually hear the wind whistling through her ears.


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Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 02:06 PM : Jun 05, 2008
+ report abuse

And all the dogs start to whine and howl......LMMFAO..

[stn_sage]

deacon20081,stn_sage,Inventagod2,vnveter
an72- Do any of you clowns realize how seriously messed up the events were that led to these guys getting fired?
Posted by soldierboy37 at 02:09 PM : Jun 05, 2008
---------------------
My response: I''d guess ALL us clowns realize that, Bozo! But, when has that caused Bush/Cheney to do the correct thing and get rid of somebody?! Gonzalez stayed on for months before HE voluntarily left. Brown stayed longer than he should have. Rice is STILL there! You understand my point, I''m sure!

[soldierboy37]

vnveteran72- delusional puppet? Thank you for your service but I think youre having some Agent Orange issues...LOL

[smurfcrusher]

Unfortunately there is not enough political credibility to impeach King George.
Politicians fear that they will be seen as just playing political games, ''though true patriots, and the blood of thousands, call for impeachment.

No, King George is not yet done maiming this fragile world...

Recent years have shown that to expect honesty and openness from this administration, is to expect too much.

[sgtrds-e4]

President Di*ck Cheney is determined to go to war with Iran before the fall elections and he will find a way to talk that meat puppet Bush into doing it. Probably just like with Iraq when he told bush that invading Iraq would show up his daddy.

[mcv57]

I hope Wynne and Moseley decide to write a book - more evidence of the Bushwackers circus act part II. What do they got to lose - a million dollar book deal, and immunity from the international crimes tribunal.

[soldierboy37]

stn_sage - yeah I''m sure the investigations were finished up over night to see how these events actually happen and who should be held responsible. Unfortunately these things do take time.

[bgwinnett]

Looks like we''re still bombing Iran this fall then.

[mcv57]

Posted by SgtRDS-E4

U.S. will not chance going to war with Russia - Iran''s ally, sodomist.

[terrythr]

I should be recalled that Rumsfeld did not trust or believe the military leaders in place when he came into office. I believe that after Shinseki was dumped he went through and cleaned house. It may be that Gates is going through and putting real military officers back into the leadership roles.

[sgtrds-e4]

If President Cheney starts a war with Iran before the fall elections then it presents a perfect opportunity for him to suspend the Constitution in the interests of "national security" and cancel the election.

[pr_boxer]

Its a shame Gates cant fire Bush, Cheney, and Rice!

[sgtrds-e4]

U.S. will not chance going to war with Russia - Iran''''s ally, sodomist.

Posted by mcv57 at 02:19 PM : Jun 05, 2008

It would also mean a nuclear confrontation with China too as they get much of their oil from Iran, but still I believe the lunatics in the White House will try it anyway.

[smurfcrusher]

The real expose will be in 2009 if Senator Barack Obama gets elected. There will be no sympathetic rug-sweepers to get rid of evidence, like the thousands of emails ''lost'' by the White House. Give me a break. Of course this administration is secretive... they would have been impeached years ago if the truth were told.

Just wait... there are people of conscience who will disobey orders and preserve evidence for the next administration, and for history.

[bgwinnett]

Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 02:21 PM

I''m fearing a false flag attack -- attributed to Iran -- later this year, to give the pretext.

[mcv57]

It would also mean a nuclear confrontation with China too as they get much of their oil from Iran, but still I believe the lunatics in the White House will try it anyway.

Posted by SgtRDS-E4

China will turn on the Bushwacker - two weeks ago China and Russia made formal protest of the Bushwackers missile defense plan.

[sgtrds-e4]

Got to run...back later.......

[randynason]

I think this is over the redefinition of the PTSD-thing, not Iran. The White House doesn''t want the inquiry to go any further on that one.

[mcv57]

If President Cheney starts a war with Iran before the fall elections then it presents a perfect opportunity for him to suspend the Constitution in the interests of "national security" and cancel the election.

Posted by SgtRDS-E4

Although we live in a corrupt government environment, these systems - state and local - will not surrender their power to a peanut brain drunk and a duracell warmonger.

[smurfcrusher]

terrythr, make no mistake where Robert Gate''s loyalty lies. Not with the American people, but with the administration that hired him. That''s why he refused to call waterboarding what it is - torture.

The thing which eludes this administration is that torture doesn''t only change the tortured - it changes us, the torturer. It surrenders moral high ground to our enemies, and creates more and more enemies as a result. What is easier to oppose, than tyranny? King George needs to stop acting like a tyrant.

Strong words, yes - but this administration''s lawyers now say the president can send the U.S. military into any neighborhood, seize any American without charge, and hold them indefinitely. Don''t believe it? See
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/24/national/main4125235.shtml#Post

[mcv57]

Posted by Smurfcrusher

They always had that ability, but mr. brushwacker and his white regime cannot afford any possiblity of civil uprise - financial collapse and government insurrection.

[wogerwabbit]

Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 02:21 PM

You''ve voiced my greatest fears and it''s totally plausable considering the criminals in office will likely face war crimes tribunals and figure if they stay in office they won''t get hung.

[vnveteran72]

If President Cheney starts a war with Iran before the fall elections then it presents a perfect opportunity for him to suspend the Constitution in the interests of "national security" and cancel the election.

Posted by SgtRDS-E4

Although we live in a corrupt government environment, these systems - state and local - will not surrender their power to a peanut brain drunk and a duracell warmonger.


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Posted by mcv57 at 02:29 PM : Jun 05, 2008
+ report abuse

I disagree. Local Police forces have been told to consider the Citizenry in their areas "Hostile Enemy".
Check out the money that''s been funneled into these forces to purchase Military Style equipment and Weapons, all in the guise of "National Security" and the "War on Terra''". Make no mistake, it''s about to go down. Get your stuff together and be prepared to do battle with these Nazis. I kid you not.

[mcv57]

Heck, the FBI is afraid of local police in major urban cities.

[mcv57]

disagree. Local Police forces have been told to consider the Citizenry in their areas "Hostile Enemy".
Check out the money that''''s been funneled into these forces to purchase Military Style equipment and Weapons, all in the guise of "National Security" and the "War on Terra''''". Make no mistake, it''''s about to go down. Get your stuff together and be prepared to do battle with these Nazis. I kid you not.

Posted by vnveteran72

Exactly, this "individual" law enforcement agency is not making preparation for a dictatorship but a confederate regime for its state.

Two months ago, a Southern Governor a Federal Investigation of corruption resulted in deliberate reject of corruption by the Governor - he intention to use his power to fight federal authority.

[clestes-2009]

I can tell you how this mistakes have been made. The military is very short on money. The drain of the 2 middle east wars going on 5-6 years now, (wars are the most expensive acts any country can engage in) have forced the military to make draconian cuts in everything from veteran benefits to quality training of non-combat staff.

These 2 guys are scapegoats! When they took over in 2005 it was already too late to make any difference to the Air Force. All quality people were in Iraq or Afghanistan, there was zero money to beef up the Air Force itself and things have only gotten worse.

Holding these 2 accountable is just passing the buck and Gates knows it. It is a completely for show only stunt.

[gwagener]

Gates also has been trying to learn more about how fuses for Air Force ballistic missiles were mistakenly shipped to Taiwan.

The word is fuzes, not fuses. A fuse is a device for protecting an electric circuit. A fuze is a device for detonating explosives. Big difference.