The Washington Post reported Thursday that the Air Force has decided to relieve from their commands at least five officers over the B-52 nuclear weapons incident in August. The action will affect officers at both Minot AFB, N.D., the base where the weapons were loaded, and Barksdale AFB, La., the base whose aircrew failed to catch the error and where the weapons sat on the flightline without special guard for hours, reports the Post’s Thomas Ricks and Joby Warrick. Enlisted airmen involved are to receive letters of reprimand. And, there could be judicial proceedings against one or more individuals. The Air Force was expected to brief Defense Secretary Robert Gates and make a public announcement today, but apparently service leaders are considering additional actions that might delay public release. There’s no public word yet, either, from the independent review initiated by Gates.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
