[Robe]

Don’t believe a word of it .....

[mdittmar]

Welcome to FR.

[Doctor Raoul]

The episode, serious enough to trigger a rare "Bent Spear" nuclear incident report that raced through the chain of command to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and President Bush, provoked new questions about the adequacy of U.S. nuclear weapons safeguards while the military's attention and resources are devoted to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Of course, if the Comrades at the LA Times and the KOSmanuats at the DailyKooks had their way, there would be no nuclear deterrent and America would be defenseless.

[magellan]

"The episode, serious enough to trigger a rare "Bent Spear" nuclear incident report ... "

Now don't go bringing Bill Clinton into this.

[Pistolshot]

I doubt seriously the “physics package” was inserted in these. Those are heavily guarded and the 2-man rule applies when moving them.

[Southack]

It’s to be expected that there is a “cover story” about the B-52 flying armed with nukes, but no serious adult should believe that “no one noticed” any of the dozen safeguards being broken that would be required for such an “Accident.”

Which is to say, it was no accident. Happened about the time that North Korea agreed to dismantle their WMDs and allow full U.S. inspection...while simultaneously some mysterious events transpired inside Syria, too.

[Incorrigible]

Maybe we can accidentally carry some nukes over Iran?

[Old Flat Toad]

Still not buyin’ it. Somebody’s diggin’ for something.

[txroadkill]

Nothing really to see here, they were always in control of the US Air Force, it’s not likely that the pilot would have launched them over Arkansas just to see what would happen, and I’m pretty damn sure they was no chance of them landing at a 7-11 for gas and a slurpy where they could have been stolen while the flight crew was inside waiting for a burrito to heat up in the microwave.

[Red Steel]

The warheads were attached to the plane in Minot without special guard for more than 15 hours, and they remained on the plane in Louisiana for nearly nine hours more before being discovered. The warheads slipped from the Air Force's nuclear safety net for more than a day without anyone's knowledge.

Did the the munitions line-delivery crew think the AGM-129s were trainers? If they were the real AGM-129s, then were was security police escort to convoy them to the plane? where's the no-lone-zone cordon on the tarmac with 360 degree view coverage? The cops just left? The load crew has to sign for the weapons before they gain custody - where's the chain of custody receipt? Or are the load crew and delivery crew the same? if not, they didn't recognize the weapons? If this was to be special shipment to Bardsdale, Where's the Munitions Custodian or MASO to personally verify the nuke shipment?

So many more questions...?

[cpdiii]

It was the first known flight by a nuclear-armed bomber over U.S. airspace, without special high-level authorization, in nearly 40 years

Forty years ago was 1967. That was the absolute height of the cold war. The US Air Force loaded up live nukes every day and flew toward the USSR and then returned. There were nukes in the sky over the continental United States every day. The purpose of this was to insure that regardless of what happened in a first strike by the USSR, there was enough ordinance in the air and on missiles and subs to render the enemy into a smoking cinder. What else did the Washington Post get wrong in this article?

[Sender]

I don’t buy the accident story. There is nothing more heavily guarded and closely inventoried than a nuke. Even if they didn’t have all the parts inserted, there is no way that nuclear warheads could be “accidentally” put in plain “cylinders” alongside conventional or unarmed missiles. I’m not speaking from any kind of personal experience, but I’m quite sure that the military puts their nukes in special storage and there is no way they can be taken out without orders from on high. If nukes were indeed on that plane, it is because someone ordered nukes to be on that plane.

[Apercu]

Yawn.....Remember SAC? Looking Glass,Offut AFB EC 135’s in the air from 1961 thru 1998, 24-7 with nuke ready B-52’s on alert or in the air.....much ado about nothing.

[pfflier]

1. ACMs are not cylindrical.

2. WTF is a "flight officer"? This is not the RAF and we haven't had any since WWII.

3. How could a reporter so ignorant of facts 1 and 2 know what a "Bent Spear" is unless tutored by someone who wanted them (and everyone else) to know the information?

[straps]

This is a load of crapola if I ever heard it. For 12 years I loaded the Bomb on B47s,52s and Lead Sleds. Its crap x 10. First of all there is no such thing in the USAF Inventory. What you have is trainning shapes and live ordanance period. Live ordinance has to be delivered in a armed convoy. Trainning shapes are painted Baby Blue period end of story.
Too boot the SAC 2 man policy has been in effect since 1950. At no time can 1 person by themselves be at a nuke weapon. It has to be 2 people of equal knowledge. If an incident did occur it is called a Broken Arrow. Not a bent whatever. This is just some idiot reporter getting a small slice of information and filling in the blanks to fit his story line. Too boot the LA Slimes give me a break
In addition it has not been 40 years since nukes were flown live over the usa it was common place before and during the Cuban Crisis. It was 20 percent of the b52 fleet flew on preselected tracks it was called Operation Chrome Dome.
I love it when a filthy slime paper makes a big deal out of nothing.
Only trainning shapes are moved from base to base on front line aircraft. Then only when transport aircraft are not operational.

I wish these jerks knew half about what they write about what jerks. Anything to try to embarass the President.........

[Liberty Valance]

It was the first known flight by a nuclear-armed bomber over U.S. airspace, without special high-level authorization, in nearly 40 years.

Hot dang! Let's do it again! Once more ...
with planning this time ... ;o)

[Skybird]

Strategic Air Command . . . Peace is our Profession (War is our Hobby). Rest in honor and peace General LeMay.

[VeniVidiVici]

The warheads were attached to the plane in Minot without special guard for more than 15 hours, and they remained on...

Blah, blah, blah. Bush's fault.

Where's the best place to hide a tree??

[bobbyd]

OK....We know this happened.

We know it was no accident/mistake.

So....Who ordered it?

DOD...Pentagon...White House?

Where would this 'in your face' order come from?