Nuke News

In the wake of the discovery of widespread cheating on a proficiency test by the nuclear missile crew force, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel this week called for an independent review to look into the issue.

During a Pentagon briefing today with his French counterpart, Hagel was asked about his recent meetings with new Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and U.S. Strategic Command chief Adm. Cecil Haney regarding the scandal. Here's what Hagel said:

There's no one issue here. And I believe that's true. This is cultural. As I said when I was at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, over the years, I do think we have taken some focus off of the responsibilities of these very dedicated, very bright, young officers, in the sense that their mission's important, their responsibility's important, but when you look at this country over the last 13 years has been committed to two large, long land wars.

And I think there has been a sense that -- of just well, we just take for granted that the nuclear component of our -- of our national strategic base line, and that is the nuclear deterrent. And I have said, and I believe this the case, and I asked specifically Secretary James' question, do you think that the safety, security, and effectiveness of our nuclear component or weapons are in jeopardy? She said no.

I asked Admiral Haney the same question. I asked the chief of staff of the Air Force the same question. I've asked commanders the same question. But that doesn't dismiss the -- the issues that we have in front of us.

I think also there's a testing issue here, too, that she mentioned. We -- we have a pretty significant and tight and unforgiving test curriculum and regimen that I'm not sure doesn't need to be explored and examined in some detail. Obviously, our standards can never be compromised. As I've said, and I think anyone who has any responsibility for our nuclear component, feels strongly about this, as do all these young people who we entrust with great responsibility. There cannot be any errors in this.

This is a -- a business of -- of error-free management. And when you connect that with the -- the high standard expectation at every test you take, if you don't make a 100 percent on every test, then you're eventually in a position where you probably minimize your chance for advancement.

Now, again, that's not just the only piece, but that's another piece. We're going to take a look and how we train and continue to train and test all these young people who have -- who have this great responsibility.

Standards must not be eroded. Of course not. But is there a better way to do this? Can we -- can we be more attuned to their interests?& I asked the question, and I asked her the question, and she mentioned the same thing in some of her thoughts.

When you -- when you put these people in these locations, where there is -- where there's almost a certain amount of isolation, I think that's a dynamic of -- of an environment that you have to factor in, too. Do they get bored? Are we doing enough? There's another part of this, and that's incentivizing these young men and women. Is there enough incentive?

So we'll get into all of these things in great detail when -- when we have our first meeting, and we'll be coming through with a number of recommendations that will come from Secretary James' trip. General Welsh, as you know, was out there, as well. Admiral Haney has been very connected into this. All our commanders have. So we'll obviously be briefing the press on where we are on this. But I think at this point, that's about as far as I want to go in -- in responding to the question.

But, again, I would leave you with this: We're not going to erode any standards in -- in our ability to manage our nuclear stockpile, nor can we. And our nuclear stockpile is safe, secure and effective today.