Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Conrad touts Minot base for new command

Conrad touts Minot base for new command

Oct 09, 2008 - 04:06:00 CDT

MINOT (AP) - Sen. Kent Conrad says the Air Force should consider the Minot Air Force Base as a headquarters for a new command to oversee the Air Force's nuclear arsenal.

Conrad says he told Air Force Secretary Michael Donley in a letter that the Minot base is the only one in the country with both bombers and missiles with nuclear missions. He says it should be "at the top of the list" for the new command.

The base has drawn attention for missteps in handling nuclear weapons, including an incident last year in which a B-52 bomber was mistakenly armed with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and flown from Minot to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.

A study released last month found a deterioration in managing the nation's nuclear arsenal and recommended the Air Force consolidate nuclear responsibilities under one command.

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Comments

Are You Kidding Me wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:37 PM:

" Are you trying to make us see the importance of keeping you in office by all the "pull" you have? All of us who have money in any type of retirement account have seen a major portion of it vanish because the "money" man, the man who knows all, Kent Conrad agreed with Barney Frank and the rest of the socialists in house hearings that there was nothing wrong with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and the oversight that was in place. The same oversight that gave ILLEGAL aliens mortgages without checking on the social security number that was presented because of legislation to NOT discriminate against people who couldn't afford a house. Houses that we the people who play by the rules now have to pay for. Will Kent Conrad use his "pull" to get any of the millions of dollars that was taken by the CEO's of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, namely Franklin Raines? Pretty tough when he's on the take as well. "

DennisB wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:30 PM:

" Agreed-after serving under McPeak, I must say he is not someone I would follow into battle. The AF is still reeling from his misguided notions and failed leadership. Heaven help up if he assumes any kind of position in an Obama administration. The bright side is that SAC is coming back! "

food for thought wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:58 AM:

" It's amazing the Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a major command and a "specified command" in the U.S. Air Force and was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based bomber aircraft and land-based ballistic missile strategic nuclear arsenal from 1946-92. General McPeak during his time as Chief of Staff, he oversaw the disbandment of Strategic Air Command, McPeak pushed through major organizational change, aimed at streamlining and emphasizing operations and combat readiness.

He was a failure as the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and sadly he is advising Obama on the military.

As you "

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