Air Force leadership to be asked to resign

[nitpicker]

Source: Navy Times.com

Air Force leadership to be asked to resign


Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne and Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley are expected to be asked to resign Thursday, Air Force Times has learned.

The stunning development follows a series of high-profile scandals and disagreements between Air Force leadership and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in the past year, during which both the Pentagon and congressional leadership have increasingly expressed frustration about the Air Force’s top bosses.

The last straw appears to be a report on nuclear weapons handling by Navy Adm. Kirkland Donald, director of naval nuclear propulsion. The critical report convinced Gates that changes must be made.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen recalled Moseley to Washington for an early-morning meeting Thursday. Moseley had been hosting a four-star conclave of top Air Force leaders at the thrice-yearly Corona leadership conference at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Following that meeting, Moseley returned to Corona with Air Force public affairs chief Brig. Gen. Darren McDew. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England is en route to Wright-Patterson, sources said. He is expected to meet with Wynne to ask for his resignation.


Read more: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/06/airforce_moseleywynne_060508anmc/

---

This appears to be speculation on the part of the writers (see entire article).

[nashville_brook]

1. "it appears this page has gone AWOL" -- do you have a cache?

[DrDan]

5. here is a link from the AF Times

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/06/airforce_canned_060508w/

[nashville_brook]

10. thanky -- so, in addition to the Minot nuke fiasco, we shipped missile fuses to Taiwan.

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=116&sid=1411703

Four cone-shaped electrical fuses used in intercontinental ballistic missile warheads were shipped to the Taiwanese instead of the helicopter batteries they had ordered.

It was the second nuclear-related mistake involving the military that has been revealed in recent months. In August an Air Force B-52 bomber was mistakenly armed with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and flown from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to Barksdale Air Force Base, La. At the time, the pilot and crew were unaware they had nuclear arms aboard.

___

[DrDan]

11. there is something bogus going on here

When going after the prisoner torturers - they went bottom-up.

Now it is top-down? I think there is much more that is not being shared.

[nashville_brook]

12. no doubt -- that's why this caught my attention. i recently read an account...

of someone in the military who handles nuclear "stores" -- you know, the people who would have loaded the nukes onto the B52. There's no less than 60 people who SHOULD have been involved in loading, checking, signing-off, etc to get those nukes on those planes. iow's it wasn't just a slip-up. it HAD to be engineered. it had to come from the top as there's no system in place for one or two or even six clerks to "mistakenly" load live nukes onto a B52.

[nashville_brook]

16. the common thread is the AF is being asked to deal arms to... who knows, who?

[defendandprotect]

67. Why isn't Congress investigating this . . . didn't they begin something on it???

[SpiralHawk]

24. Maybe they won't toe the Christo-fascist line?

hmmmm?

[nashville_brook]

6. the story is apparently too hot to handle (see link). would love to know what the rest of it said.

[atreides1]

7. Delete

[DrDan]

2. didn't Gates have some criticism a couple of months ago about

AF support of the war. Something to the effect that the AF was dragging its feet and not doing all it could be doing to support the felonious war.

[Ian David]

4. Gates said they weren't doing enough to help in Iraq. n/t

[nashville_brook]

14. replace the word "Iraq" with what they really mean: Cheney's Halliburton mission.

[TheDebbieDee]

8. I think that is what these resignations are about.......

Either * or "shotgun" has asked the AF to draw up a plan to bomb Iran and these guys are saying "No can do, sir!"

[nashville_brook]

13. oh wow. that's DARK -- and therefore, prolly right on.

[wmbrew0206]

23. The Air Force Secertary and Cheif of Staff would not be involved in planning somehting like that.

The Air Force senior commander at Central Command would be the person who would draw up a plan like that at the order of the CentCom CC.

The Sec. of AF and the CoS of AF are responsible for recruiting, training, and maintenance of the Air Force. Actual battle plans and strategy are handled by the Combatant Commanders.

[14thColony]

74. Exactly.

The service chiefs and their staffs organize, train, and equip. They are not combatant commanders and the CoSAF does not exercise direct control over any of the USAF's combat forces.

[thunder rising]

28. That's my take on it too. Same as General Fallon, "So, you won't bomb Iran huh?"

[appal_jack]

55. first thing I thought of too.

GMTA.

:scared: :tinfoilhat: :scared:

-app

edit for some spelling errors, as great minds cannot, apparently, always type accurately.

[daleo]

58. My first thought too. n/t

[Ian David]

3. The handling of the nukes wasn't their mistake. It was allowing the information to be leaked...

about the INTENTIONAL transfer of the nukes that was their mistake.

[countryjake]

9. This was just breaking news on CNN, but nothing on their site, yet.

They just stated that both have resigned.

[eppur_se_muova]

77. Full article: Air Force officials ousted over nuclear gaffes (CNN)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The top military and civilian leaders of the U.S. Air Force were forced out Thursday over the handling of nuclear weapons, the Defense Department secretary said.

Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley and Secretary Michael W. Wynne resigned over the department's concern over two incidents, including the August flight of a B-52 bomber that flew across the country with nuclear weapons.

"Focus of the Air Force leadership has drifted" in terms of handling nuclear weapons and equipment, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.

In August, a B-52 bomber flew from North Dakota to Louisiana with the crew unaware that six nuclear-tipped missiles were on board. Four officers were relieved of duty afterward, including three colonels.

Gates also cited this year's discovery that components designed to arm and fuse nuclear warheads were accidentally shipped to Taiwan in 2006.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/05/pentagon.firings/index.html

[nitpicker]

15. An update from the Navy Times website

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/06/airforce_moseleywynne_060508anmc/

Moseley resigns; Wynne expected to follow suit
Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley resigned this morning at a meeting with Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Moseley was summoned to an early morning meeting with Mullen to discuss a report on the Air Force’s problems handling nuclear weapons. The report, by Navy Adm. Kirkland Donald, director of naval nuclear propulsion, convinced Defense Secretary Robert Gates that senior officials should be held accountable.Moseley resigned in response.

At the same time, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England was dispatched to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to meet with Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne, sources said, where he was expected to ask for Wynne’s resignation.

It is not clear how quickly these changes could take effect, and other senior officers could still be relieved in the wake of the Donald report.

(more follows)

[Dover]

17. A little more info about these AF guys >>

MICHAEL W. WYNNE



Michael W. Wynne, of Florida, was selected August 16, 2005, by President George W. Bush as Secretary of the Air Force. Wynne has served as the Department of Defense's Acting Undersecretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics since 2003.

Wynne would replace Preston M. 'Pete' Geren, who has served as Acting Secretary of the Air Force since July 29, 2005. Geren replaced Secretary of the Air Force James G. Roche, who resigned in January 2005. Wynne's nomination was sent to the Senate on September 6, 2005, and his status is pending.

Nomination Failure
Wynne was nominated September 3, 2003, as Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics to replace Edward C. (Pete) Aldridge, Jr. who retired from government May 23, 2003. Wynne had been serving as acting undersecretary since Aldridge retired and, since July 2001, Wynne had been Aldridge’s principal deputy undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics." <1><2>

Following opposition by Senator John McCain (R-AZ), it was anticipated in January 2005 that confirmation of Wynne as full undersecretary was unlikely and that Wynne's name would probably not be sent to the Senate again. "His nomination languished in the Senate for months, after Mr. McCain opposed it, as well as a number of other Pentagon candidates. All pending White House nominations died when Congress adjourned last year," Rowan Scarborough reported in the Washington Times. "Defense industry executives also said they been told by Pentagon officials that Mr. Wynne will not be renominated by the White House." See "Boeing Lease Deal" section below.

Cleared for New Nomination
The June 24, 2005, edition of Inside the Ring by Bill Gertz and Rowan Scarborough reported that the "Pentagon inspector general's recently released report on 'accountability' in the Boeing tanker lease deal is not expected to derail the job prospects of Michael W. Wynne."

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, "who prefers people with CEO experience to run the Army, Air Force and Navy, reached inside Northrop Grumman in the first Bush term to select James G. Roche as his first Air Force secretary. He then nominated Mr. Roche to be Army secretary. But the Senate blocked him over the tanker deal, which Mr. McCain charged was bad for taxpayers and a bailout for Boeing. Mr. Roche then resigned in January." <3>

Government-Industry Revolving Door
"Before his appointment to the Pentagon he was involved in venture capital, and worked for General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin. Unlike the most senior civilian appointees at the Department of Defense such as Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz, Wynne served in uniform in the United States military." <4>

"Wynne formerly worked as principal deputy undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. Before that, he served as chairman and CEO IXATA and as chairman of Extended Reach Logistics." <5>

Upon Wynne's early retirement from General Dynamics in September 1999, he was replaced by GD's Executive Vice President Gordon R. England, who served as Secretary, Department of the Navy, from May 21, 2001, until January 30, 2003, when he became the first Deputy Secretary in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. <6>

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Michael_W._Wynne

----

Wynne was one of several people who were blamed by a Pentagon inspector general for a failed 23.5 billion dollar deal with Boeing, which many lawmakers call the most significant case of contract abuse in decades. <7>

"The trail of e-mails show Air Force Secretary James G. Roche doggedly pursued the Boeing deal and disparaged those in the Pentagon who raised questions, according to documents released by" Senator John McCain. <8>

"Wynne's role was less clear." Wynne, who then oversaw Air Force procurement as Donald Rumsfeld's "top weapons buyer, agreed with Mr. Roche to rebuke senior Pentagon officials who worked against the deal. But Mr. Wynne also argued that a second contractor was needed to compete with Boeing. For this, he felt the sting of Mr. Roche's criticism in several e-mails." <9>

"Questions about the deal, which the subject of investigations by the Pentagon and U.S. Justice Department, have scuttled several other nominations." <10>

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Michael_W._Wynne

---

Michael W. Wynne is the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C. He is the 21st Secretary and was confirmed on Nov. 3, 2005. He is responsible for the affairs of the Department of the Air Force, including the organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its nearly 370,000 men and women on active duty, 180,000 members of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve, 160,000 civilians, and their families. With an annual budget of approximately $110 billion, he ensures the Air Force can meet its current and future operational requirements.

Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Wynne served as Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. In these positions he was the principal adviser to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense for all matters relating to acquisition, research and development, and logistics management.

Before entering public service, Mr. Wynne was involved in venture capital, nurturing small technology companies through their start-up phase as a member of the NextGenFund Executive Committee. He also served in executive positions within two companies. These companies were in the field of Travel (IXATA), and Logistics (Extended Reach Logistics).

In 1999 Mr. Wynne had retired as Senior Vice President from General Dynamics, where his role was in International Development and Strategy. He had rejoined the company at the invitation of the Chairman to strengthen international activities. In between working with General Dynamics, he spent three years with Lockheed Martin, having sold the General Dynamics' Space Systems Division to then Martin Marietta. He successfully integrated the division into the Astronautics Company and became the General Manager of the Space Launch Systems segment, combining the Titan with the Atlas Launch vehicles. Mr. Wynne spent a total of 23 years with General Dynamics in various senior positions with the Aircraft (F-16s) and Main Battle Tanks (M1A2) Divisions, and served on the corporate staff prior to becoming the President of Space Systems, including Launch Vehicles (Atlas and Centaur), and a Corporate Vice President.

Mr. Wynne graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and served in the Air Force for seven years, ending his career as a captain and assistant professor of astronautics at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mr. Wynne has published numerous professional journal articles relating to engineering, cost estimating and contracting.

EDUCATION
1966 Bachelor of Science degree in general engineering, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
1970 Master's degree in electrical engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
1975 Master's degree in business, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 1966 - June 1973, Air Force officer
2. July 1973 - June 1975, Principal, Research Analysis and Development (RAD), Inc.
3. July 1975 - May 1994, various executive positions within General Dynamics, retired as President, Space Systems
4. May 1994 - March 1997, General Manager, Space Launch Systems, Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, Colo.
5. July 1997 - October 1999, Senior Vice President, General Dynamics, Falls Church, Va.
6. December 2000 - July 2001, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, IXATA Group, San Diego, Calif.
7. July 2001 - October 2005, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Washington, D.C. (May 2003 - April 2005, also served as acting Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics)
8. April 2005 - June 2005, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Washington, D.C.
9. November 2005 - present, Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Fellow, National Contracts Management Association
Former President, Association of the U.S. Army, Detroit Chapter
Former President, American Defense Preparedness Association, Michigan Chapter

-----

GENERAL T. MICHAEL MOSELEY



General T. Michael Moseley is Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. As Chief, he serves as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipage of more than 710,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the general and other service chiefs function as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President.

General Moseley graduated from Texas A&M University in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He earned a Master of Arts degree from Texas A&M University in 1972, also in political science. He has commanded the F-15 Division of the USAF Fighter Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nev., the 33rd Operations Group at Eglin AFB, Fla., and the 57th Wing, the Air Force's largest, most diverse flying wing, also at Nellis. The general has served as the combat Director of Operations for Joint Task Force-Southwest Asia. General Moseley also commanded 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces while serving as Combined Forces Air Component Commander for operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The general is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has been awarded the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, the Order of National Merit (Officer) and the Order of National Merit (Commander) by the president of the French Republic, which is the second highest French military award. He has also been awarded the United Arab Emirates' Military Medal, 1st Class, by the president of the U.A.E., and the Mérito Santos-Dumont from the Brazilian Air Force.

General Moseley's staff assignments have been a mix of operational, joint and personnel duties. These include serving in Washington, D.C., as Director for Legislative Liaison for the Secretary of the Air Force; Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs for Asia/Pacific and Middle East, the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Chief of the Air Force General Officer Matters Office; Chief of Staff of the Air Force Chair and Professor of Joint and Combined Warfare at the National War College; and Chief of the Tactical Fighter Branch, Tactical Forces Division, Directorate of Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

EDUCATION
1971 Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, Texas A&M University, College Station
1972 Master of Arts degree in political science, Texas A&M University, College Station
1977 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1981 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
1984 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1988 U.S. Air Force Joint Senior Battle Commander's Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
1990 National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2000 Combined Force Air Component Commander Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala., and Hurlburt Field, Fla.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1972 - May 1973, student, undergraduate pilot training, Webb AFB, Texas
2. May 1973 - July 1977, T-37 instructor pilot and spin flight test pilot; flight check pilot, and standardization and evaluation flight examiner, 3389th Flying Training Squadron, 78th Flying Training Wing, Webb AFB, Texas
3. July 1977 - September 1979, F-15 instructor pilot, flight lead and mission commander, 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
4. September 1979 - August 1983, F-15 weapons and tactics officer, instructor pilot, and flight lead and mission commander; standardization and evaluation/ flight examiner, 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron and 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
5. August 1983 - June 1984, course officer, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
6. June 1984 - June 1987, Chief, Tactical Fighter Branch, Tactical Forces Division, Directorate of Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
7. June 1987 - June 1989, Commander, F-15 Division, and instructor pilot, Fighter Weapons Instructor Course, U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. June 1989 - June 1990, course officer, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
9. June 1990 - August 1992, Chief of Staff of the Air Force chair and professor of Joint and Combined Warfare, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
10. August 1992 - January 1994, Commander, 33rd Operations Group, Eglin AFB, Fla.
11. January 1994 - May 1996, Chief, Air Force General Officer Matters Office, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
12. May 1996 - November 1997, Commander, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. November 1997 - July 1999, Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs, Asia/Pacific and Middle East, Directorate for Strategic Plans and Policy, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.
14. July 1999 - October 2001, Director, Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
15. November 2001 - August 2003, Commander, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces, Shaw AFB, S.C.
16. August 2003 - September 2005, Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
17. September 2005 - present, Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 2,800
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, AT-38 and F-15A/B/C/D

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
French National Order of Merit (Commander)
French National Order of Merit (Officer)
United Arab Emirates' Military Medal, 1st Class
Mérito Santos-Dumont, Brazilian Air Force
Republic of Singapore Meritorious Service Medal (Military)

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 H.H. Arnold Award, the Air Force Association's highest honor to a military member in the field of National Security
2004 Sergeant William Jasper Freedom Award for contributions in maintaining freedom
2005 U.S. Air Force Sergeant's Association Excellence in Military Leadership
2005 James V. Hartinger Award for significant achievements in advancing the military space mission
2005 Inducted into the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Hall of Honor

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant July 9, 1971
First Lieutenant July 9, 1974
Captain Jan. 9, 1976
Major Oct. 1, 1983
Lieutenant Colonel March 1, 1986
Colonel April 1, 1991
Brigadier General Dec. 1, 1996
Major General Feb. 1, 2000
Lieutenant General Nov. 7, 2001
General Oct. 1, 2003

(Current as of May 2008)

[DemoTex]

21. Moseley: "Spin flight test pilot"?

2. May 1973 - July 1977, T-37 instructor pilot and spin flight test pilot; flight check pilot, and standardization and evaluation flight examiner, 3389th Flying Training Squadron, 78th Flying Training Wing, Webb AFB, Texas

Lieutenant, I want you to take this tail-heavy widow-maker out into the Texas sky and spin the shit out of it!

:rofl:

[boomerbust]

18. Two more books are about to be written

containing Bush smackdowns

[jkilvik]

19. Maybe they just missed a prayer breakfast?? n/t

[BearSquirrel2]

20. Smokescreen ...

Obviously, Bush isn't satisified with the evangenlical progress at the Air Force Academy ;-)

[DCKit]

25. I thought the religiously insane already had a lock on the AF.

Guess they're not done yet.

[BearSquirrel2]

27. I was being sarcastic (nm)

[RaleighNCDUer]

22. The last straw appears to be a report on nuclear weapons handling

That was supposed to be a SECRET, dammit! How can we have unexplained terrorist nukes going off if you're flying them all over the country in plain sight?!

[defendandprotect]

45. Who knows where they were going . . .

but there were strong rumors of at least TWO attempts to plant WMD in Iraq --

Evidently, first was a big blow out with 75 US personnel lost -- or more?

The second one also ended in failure --

thank heavens!!!

[wmbrew0206]

26. This was probably over due.

We had General Mattis visit us in Ramadi last summer and he had just attended a meeting of the three stars of all the services in Iraq. His full bird colonel aid, told us that during the meeting the Air Force was getting some rough treatment from the Army and Marine generals about Iraq.

Apparently an Air Force General responded by saying "We've had more troops in Iraq than anyone else." (Not true and insulting because the Air Force does three to four month tours vs 7 for the Marine Corps, and 12 to 15 for the Army.) The Marine and Army Generals took off the gloves after that and started throwing haymaker at the Air Force generals. (verbal of course).

[itsrobert]

75. Not true

Air Force Security Forces do 6 month tours in Iraq. Air Force enlisted force have been cut so the Army and Marines can add more troops to their numbers. Also, the mission in Iraq doesn't really call for a lot of Aircraft mechanics and missile maintenance troops which is what the Air Force enlisted force is largely composed of. The mission is clearly an army and to a lesser degree marine mission.

[dipsydoodle]

29. CBS News have got it up now

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/05/ap/cabstatepent/main4156860.shtml

[dixiegrrrrl]

30. At same time we are removing guards from Nuclear Power Plants

and sending guards "to protect the nation's capitol"



Why are the National Guard troops being pulled away from guarding nuclear facilities in New York?
OSWEGO, N.Y. — National Guard troops that have stood guard at four upstate New York nuclear power plants since shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are being withdrawn this summer.

Eric Durr, a spokesman for the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs, says that there wasn’t any money included in the state budget for keeping the troops at nuclear plants near Oswego and Ginna, which is near Rochester.
A spokeswoman for Constellation Energy, which operates the two nuclear plants at Nine Mile Point in Scriba, says it was notified that the troops will be withdrawn from there this summer.

The Division of Military and Naval Affairs says about 100 troops are stationed at the four plants, and deployments at others in the state are under review.
source:http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_nukeplanttroops_051508/

and this:
NEWTON, Miss. — About 190 soldiers from a Mississippi Army National Guard unit are set to mobilize Monday in preparation for a deployment.
The battalion will travel to Fort Bliss, Texas, before going Washington D.C., where it will protect the nation’s capital.
This will be the second deployment for the 1st Battalion, 204th Air Defense Artillery, based in Newton. The deployment is expected to last about a year.

Source: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_missguard_060208/

I gat a bad feeling....

;(

[defendandprotect]

46. Yeah, me too -- feels like we're being framed for a permanent takeover --

fascists crossing the threshold --

[Ilsa]

31. Gates fired them over the Minot B-52 nuke incident. Good. nt

[Forrest Greene]

32. Here's A General Question About This Sort Of Thing

One of the posts here described one of the meetings as soon-to-be-resignee has a closed-door meeting with his boss, emerges, & resigns. It doesn't take much cynicism to imagine the meeting consisted of "Sit down. You're fired. Hit the road." The detail of "resigning" is often a polite fiction designed to dampen controversy, sidestep the awful spectre of termination appearing on one's resume, & perhaps somehow needed to retain vestment in retirement plans...

What I'm wondering is, when so many of these nice, polite retirements seem to hinge upon matters of honesty or morality in policy & serve largely to keep the status quo looking good, why don't more resignees play it more like "Screw you, you'll have to fire me. I'm not about to resign at your request, & furthermore, I'm taking the story to the papers!"?

Do they, despite being cut loose from the mothership, still have too much to lose? Is such directness simply Not Done in these circles? Does resigning seem more gracious, more classy, more filled with integrity? Are offers made which cannot be refused? Maybe the resignees are so worn out they just want it to be over, with no more fighting.

Just curious. What do you think?

[AndyTiedye]

73. They Still Fire You, but then They Use Real Fire

why don't more resignees play it more like "Screw you, you'll have to fire me. I'm not about to resign at your request, & furthermore, I'm taking the story to the papers!"?

They still fire you, but then they use real fire.

[WhiteTara]

85. the "fire" becomes less verbal?

and you become more dead? from suicide of 3 shots to the back of the head?
:shrug:

[flashl]

33. Breaking: Air Force Chief Secretary Resign

Source: Wired

The Air Force's top civilian and uniformed leaders are being booted out of the Pentagon. Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael "Buzz" Moseley has resigned, according to Inside Defense and Air Force Times. Secretary Michael W. Wynne is next.

The move isn't exactly a shocker. The Air Force has come under fire for everything from mishandling nukes to misleading ad campaigns to missing out on the importance of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. For months, the Air Force's leadership has been on the brink of open conflict with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England. In the halls of the Air Force's chiefs, the talk has been largely about the threats posed by China and a resurgent Russia. Gates wanted the service to actually focus on the wars at hand, in Iraq and Afghanistan. "For much of the past year I’ve been trying to concentrate the minds and energies of the defense establishment on the current needs and current conflicts," he told the Heritage Foundation. "In short, to ensure that all parts of the Defense Department are, in fact, at war."

Read more: http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/06/breaking-air-fo.html

---

Will update

[flashl]

34. More articles ...

Top U.S. Air Force official resigns: report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley has resigned, and Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne may also be on the brink of resigning, the defense publication InsideDefense.com reported on Thursday.

"Top-level Pentagon officials gave Moseley the option to resign or be fired during a meeting this morning," the website reported, quoting an unidentified military official. "Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne also could resign later today," it said.

Moseley is the Air Force's top uniformed officer.

Reuters

Air Force leadership in shake-up

Defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley and Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne to step down.

A public announcement was expected later in the day.

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.

Moseley became Air Force chief in September 2005; Wynne 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.

The Air Force has endured a number of embarrassing setbacks over the past year. In August, for instance, a B-52 bomber was mistakenly armed with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and flown across the country. The pilot and crew were unaware they had nuclear arms aboard.

The error was considered so grave that President Bush was quickly informed.

Forbes

[defendandprotect]

36. Lots of resignations sending us messages again ---

The Air Force has endured a number of embarrassing setbacks over the past year. In August, for instance, a B-52 bomber was mistakenly armed with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and flown across the country. The pilot and crew were unaware they had nuclear arms aboard.

The error was considered so grave that President Bush was quickly informed.

Moseley later announced that in response to flaws exposed during the nuclear weapons error, the Air Force would change the way bomber crews organize for their nuclear training mission.

[jeanruss]

37. not an accident

I have read that there is a parallel command at this base under Cheney and this wasn't a mistake. Cheney was trying to nuke Iran, but was foiled by loyal airmen who were whistleblowers.

[TheWraith]

40. What you read is wrong.

There's a lot of conspiracy theory misinformation tripe out there about the B-52 incident. None of it is true.

[defendandprotect]

43. I disagree --

to presume that anything like this happened as some every day thing is naive --

[FiveGoodMen]

50. You know this how?

[defendandprotect]

70. . . . By logical deduction, common sense --

do you think we leave nukes around to simply be picked up and loaded onto a plane ...

without the pilots even being aware of it --

Seemingly it takes something like 60 people to move a missile out ---

There has been info on this posted --- people familiar with the actual regulations have posted
them --

however, as I said, common sense will do --

[defendandprotect]

42. I agree ---

[TNOE]

49. How do we know it was Iran??

More likely a city in the USA and then BLAMED on Iran - ala 9/11 Verion 2

[defendandprotect]

71. Actually . . .

these days it would be hard to dismiss a notion like that -- !!!

And I'm with you on 9/11 ---

[wmbrew0206]

51. Please provide a link that describes this "parallel command" because it sounds like utter BS

[flashl]

59. A few years ago, there was another 'sudden' commander resignation

in NC?? after the post commander resisted a local urban war drill. IIRC, the state Senator nor House Rep. were aware of the scheduled 'war' exercise until the commander's resignation made it into the news.

[LeftHander]

35. Last hold outs to preventing a Iran attack....nt

[hunter]

72. The Air Force? I doubt it.

The Air Force is a pit of corruption. If the Bush administration wants to attack Iran they'd simply buy them.

[peacetalksforall]

38. Intuition says: We are being set up. There is resistance to bombing Iran.

And they are washing the slate so that no more discoveries are made.

Preparing for Russia and China - code words for not preparing for Iran?

Just a guess based on watching this lying, killing, cheating, thieving administration.

[defendandprotect]

44. I don't know if anyone is counting . . . but there must be two dozen or so resignations by military

at this point -- at least that we know about???

Since 9/11???


Don't mean like General Myers, of course, who I think played a prominent role in 9/11 and
covering it up -- retired in '05 --

Evidently, more than 2,000 Pentagon people have now gone into employ of weapons manufacturers/
lobbyists?

[wmbrew0206]

53. Former government employees at the Pentagon go to work for defense contractors? You don't say.

This has been happening since FDR. It is part of what Ike warned about the "military industrially complex."

So you are looking at about 250 people out of thousands of people retiring and leaving every year over eight years to go to work for defense contractors who pay better.

If you look back at every other administration, you'll find the numbers are about the same.

[defendandprotect]

54. The recent report mentioned 2200 ... and think it should be barred --

Put a ten year limit on anyone leaving Pentagon and going to work for weapons makers or
lobbyists --

[wmbrew0206]

56. So now you are going to place restrictions on employment for private citizens?

[defendandprotect]

57. We already do that with Congress . . . .

[wmbrew0206]

64. Congressmen/Congresswomen are elected officials

not private citizens.

[defendandprotect]

65. I think anyone with position of authority in the military --

i.e., buying power, persuasion . ..

should also be considered as an "official" of government for this purpose --


I mean . . . what's the alternative . . . ?

We have to protect ourselves from people who will corrupt government ---

and certainly the Military in this sense is part of government --- using taxpayer $$$ ---


We could do it the other way around: BAR weapons manufacturers and lobbyists from hiring
anyone previously employed by Pentagon . . ??? Any better???

[lovuian]

62. The Military FBI and CIA have been infiltrated and as result

our Military is fracturing up

these are examples of how Bush administration have a civil war rebellion going on through out the military

The Military swear allegience to the People of the US not the body slammer Bush he is a nobody and soon even less than that in a few months

[peacetalksforall]

66. We should call it like we see it - nearly all of the government is now in Cheneys' hands -

intelligence, brass, comptrollers, too many in Congress, security. Combine it with corporate, especially corporate tv and the loss of our Constitution, plus the private army he placed under Condi and all the money they have stolen and borrowed and we have - no more U.S. of A. It's Cheney's showcase except that he doesn't advertise or provide guided tours.

And we, the hypocrites, criticized the Germans for looking away.

[defendandprotect]

68. Realistically, they haven't committed themselves to 45 years of political violence

in order to stop now, have they . . . ???

Also, the nation is very distracted now with the Dem campaign --- Hillary extension of it, that is!

And summertime is moving in on us --- good time for them to play games???

[Thothmes]

76. That is not true

The Military swears to protect and defend the Constitution. They also swear to carry our the orders of the officers appointed over them. No where do they swear allegience to the people of the US.

[peacetalksforall]

78. Of course they don't - but swearing something means nothing in

this administration, this Cheney era.

[TheWraith]

39. This guy's been in hot water since he took the job.

No wonder he's being asked to fall on the sword.

[unblock]

41. "the white house had nothing to do with it"

because the white house is a building, silly.

cheney and shrub's fingerprints are all over this one, though.

[defendandprotect]

47. Where's Hersh, Ritter . . . ??? Murtha . . . ??? Who usually gives us inside news on military???

[defendandprotect]

48. I think Obama should be very careful about pre-committing himself to any Bush policies .....

on new wars -- Iran, etal --

[lovuian]

52. Gates is cleaning house Fallon and now the AirForce

I told you we were in a civil war

the Military forces are rebelling

how many will just go quietly ??? or may go out rebelling
Gates may only be in for a couple months and he is firing people

[defendandprotect]

60. Gates is one of the friendliest Bush helpers -- "The October Surprise" . . .

[defendandprotect]

61. Question is what is Democratic leadership thinking and doing about this--???

Lots of distractions now with campaigns, Obama --- trying to deal with Clinton's antics -- !!!

Petitions and trying to keep her delegates!!!

And, it's getting to be summertime -- soon school is out and then things get very quiet in
control centers and with public --

[Demeter]

63. I Think Gates Is Running for Puppetmaster

McCain being the designated puppet, this time around.

[Marie26]

69. When does Congress' session end? nt

[Webster Green]

79. The chimp is getting ready to nuke Iran..

Should we like....I don't know.......hide under our desks or something? :nuke:

[DeepModem Mom]

80. Air Force officials ousted over nuclear gaffes

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The top military and civilian leaders of the U.S. Air Force were forced out Thursday over the handling of nuclear weapons, the Defense Department secretary said. Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley and Secretary Michael W. Wynne resigned over the department's concern over two incidents, including the August flight of a B-52 bomber that flew across the country with nuclear weapons.

"Focus of the Air Force leadership has drifted" in terms of handling nuclear weapons and equipment, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.

In August, a B-52 bomber flew from North Dakota to Louisiana with the crew unaware that six nuclear-tipped missiles were on board. Four officers were relieved of duty afterward, including three colonels. Gates also cited this year's discovery that components designed to arm and fuse nuclear warheads were accidentally shipped to Taiwan in 2006.

Critics also cite last month's news that the Air Force's 5th Bomb Wing failed a defense "nuclear surety" inspection -- despite having months to prepare and being under close scrutiny after the previous incidents. The inspection found deficiencies in the wing's ability to protect its part of the nation's nuclear stockpile....

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/05/pentagon.firings/index.html

[bdamomma]

81. there is alot more to these firings than what they are telling us.

The Air Force is being runned by Christian fundies who would like to accelerate Armageddon, and they have the means to do it.

[Astrad]

82. Seems the reason given wasn't the real reason

"Despite reports you may be reading elsewhere, this firing was not about nukes or missiles, well-placed sources say. "Far and away the biggest issue was the budget stuff, not the nuclear stuff. The UAV fight, the F-22 deal... Gates really didn't appreciate it," one of those sources tells Danger Room. Now, with the botched missile and nuke shipments, "the SecDef has good cover to do something that suits him bureaucratically." "

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/06/breaking-air-fo.html

[PATRICK]

84. The separate question

that may not at all be connected to these firings is exactly how a command decision to attack Iran works.
Fallon was not on base to help the run up and he's out. That seems somewhat clear. The oil cartel minus Iran(who brutally sees this as a win/win facedown opportunity) is or is not resigned to an attack. Israel is or is not assured of an attack scenario or scenarios. The fleet is constantly in position to do something in Iran and now Venezuela, even a show of the flag near Lebanon/Syria. "Covert" operations are still being conducted, known and given no fanfare by anyone in some weird obeisance to the term "covert".

After that it gets fuzzy. If it is merely timing and resistance factors at this point what are they? It is hard to believe mere terrible results and consequences are making Bush/Cheney hesitate, but are they being held up by multi-level Fallons and alarmed business associates? What is the least risky most expedient brutal political manipulation of an attack and the best time? What are the most likely windows for the massive moves that presage such an attack(carrier switches when the relief force and the relieved are both at hand)?

What we do know is that Congressional reaction is not timely, rather belated and the MSM public awareness nearly non-existent except for occasional, low key props repeating their role in the Iraq war crime. We see our second guessing getting nowhere and possible whistleblowers or wrenches in the gears turned into immediately silenced conundrums. We see no one taking the inevitability head on, even though taking inevitability headon is a supposed hallmark of our party elan at the moment.

Our vaunted correctness in Iraq predictions, qualified because few could trust the entire US machine could be that stupidly and consistently run into the ground, had a different uncertainty principle and the usual impenetrable questions of when and- considering the madness- why. What we still have is vague, sidelined, impotent opposition to a repeat war crime, greater catastrophic consequences and surer defeat. If anything quieter as if hoping the lame duck will evaporate on its own. Purging is responsible for some. Impunity and covering for guilt over Iraq for other mutings, but in essence the sh*t everywhere marches on even in the many times stung Congress.

Risk. Though they tried they do not rely on provocations, plots and rigged incidents. They wanted to false flag UN planes, plant WMD evidence and it failed, but without any consequences whatsoever for it becoming public knowledge and on the record. So likely they try it again and have tried fairly recently. That leaves it up to Mr. Impunity himself, Bush/Cheney Siamese president, to try what they are also thinking they will get away with, pulling the trigger at the best moment.

That leaves us guessing, gesticulating and taking bets on that time and its rationale and how it will occur- statements about attacking the Iranian Guard as a Congress sanctioned terrorist group notwithstanding. These games all have one conclusion, an unimpeded attack on Iran and disasters of various sorts.

Isn't it way past high time to tackle this impunity headon? Making threats about possible impeachment by the same few voices AFTER the catastrophe are hardly an effort and hard to take seriously by anyone.

[bdamomma]

83. article is gone

[ashling]

86. 2 Leaders Ousted From Air Force in Atomic Errors

Source: nyt

WASHINGTON — The Air Force’s senior civilian official and its highest-ranking general were ousted by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Thursday after an inquiry into the mishandling of nuclear weapons and components found systemic problems in the Air Force.

Susan Walsh/Associated Press
******

“Mistakes are not acceptable when shipping and controlling sensitive, classified parts” of the United States’ nuclear arsenal, Mr. Gates said. “Our policy is clear. We will ensure the complete physical control of nuclear weapons, and we will properly handle the associated components at all times. It is a tremendous responsibility, and one we must not, and will never, take lightly.”

****

The inquiry involving the Air Force was an effort to determine how four high-tech electrical nose cone fuses for Minuteman nuclear warheads were sent to Taiwan in place of helicopter batteries. The mistake was discovered in March — a year and a half after the mistaken shipment.

Mr. Gates made clear that most troubling was that the inquiry showed how little the Air Force had done to improve the security of the nuclear weapons infrastructure even after it was disclosed last year that a B-52 bomber had flown across the United States without anyone’s realizing that it was carrying six armed nuclear cruise missiles.

Mr. Gates, whose military service includes a year as an intelligence officer within the Air Force’s nuclear program, emphasized that neither incident posed a danger of a nuclear mishap.

****



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/washington/06military.html?em&ex=1212897600&en=0134fd234e05a59b&ei=5087%0A

---

1) I thought I recalled them saying at the time that they weren't armed. But they still say there was no danger of a mishap. Well there was not supposed to be any danger of them flying the friggin things across the country in the first place!

As far as I'm concerned - and believe me, I AM CONCERNED - as long as we have any of the things in our possession there is a danger of a "mishap". Well, only if you define "mishap" a blowing up half the friggin country and rendering the other half uninhabitable due to nuclear fallout!!!!!!

2) How'd they overlook this mishap?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

87. that last photo says it all.

[Dogtown]

88. They sure torqued that headline

it should read "Patriots Persecuted for Revealing Incompetence".


I guess the GOP Loyalist Party members only rewad headlines...

:eyes:

[Xenotime]

89. If we could just the heads of the other branches to step down, we could end this war.

[rhett o rick]

90. Maybe the fired individuals opposed the invasion of Iran. Or is that too paranoid? nm