Pentagon admits to weakness in nuclear records

The Pentagon has played down reports that the US military cannot locate hundreds of sensitive nuclear missile components.

Several government officials told the FT on Wednesday a secret Pentagon report into nuclear safeguards had found the air force could not account for many components previously included in its inventory. One said more than 1,000 were missing.

Responding to the story, Bryan Whitman, Pentagon spokesman, on Thursday conceded there was a “weakness” in record keeping, but said there was no evidence security of the nuclear arsenal had been compromised.

“There is a difference between missing items and not having a full and complete auditable paper trail for every component,” said Mr Whitman.

Another official insisted the air force had not lost any nuclear weapons or components, although neither official could explain how the air force was certain no weapons were missing, given the accounting problems.

The disclosure is the latest embarrassing episode for the air force. Robert Gates, US defence secretary, recently fired the two top air force officials after the service inadvertently shipped missile nose cones to Taiwan, while last year the force had to explain how a bomber mistakenly carried six nuclear missiles across the US. The incidents have raised concerns about US nuclear safeguards as Washington presses other countries to bolster counter-proliferation measures.

In announcing the departure of the top air force officials earlier this month, Mr Gates said Admiral Kirkland Donald, the officer who led the investigation, concluded that both incidents had a “common origin” which was “the gradual erosion of nuclear standards and a lack of effective oversight by air force leadership”.

Jon Wolfsthal, a nuclear expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said: “The US has to be the world leader in security and stewardship of its nuclear assets. No mistakes are permissible. Imagine how states will react now when the US urges them to improve nuclear security. How do we press Pakistan, India, Russia and others to get more serious about their security?”

A senior defence official said the report had “identified issues about record keeping” for sensitive nuclear missile components. But he stressed there was no suggestion that components had ended up in the hands of countries that should not have received them.

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association in Washington, said the revelation was “very significant and extremely troubling”.

Democratic senators on Friday called on Robert Gates, US defence secretary, to explain how the US Air Force lost track of hundreds of sensitive components for nuclear weapons.

John Kerry, a senior member of foreign relations committee, responding to a story in the Financial Times, said the “revelation that the administration has reportedly lost track of 1,000 sensitive nuclear missile components is only the latest reminder of how this president has dangerously compromised our nuclear security”.

“This latest alleged problem, when viewed against the backdrop of a series of related errors, raises legitimate concerns about the security of our country’s nuclear weapons arsenal,” Mr Kerry and Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, wrote in a letter to Mr Gates.

The FT on Wednesday reported that a Pentagon investigation into nuclear safeguards had found that the air force could not account for hundreds, and possibly more than 1,000, sensitive components previously included in its nuclear inventory.

A spokesperson for Mr Kerry said he would next week request a congressional hearing into the issue.

The Pentagon on Thursday conceded that the investigation found a “weakness” in record keeping for weapons components, but stressed that there was no evidence that the security of the US nuclear arsenal had been compromised.

Mr Gates recently fired the two top air force officials after the investigation led by Admiral Kirkland Donald blamed the service for the inadvertent shipment of nuclear missile nose cones to Taiwan.

Ellen Tauscher, the Democratic chairwoman of the House committee with responsibility for nuclear issues who has been briefed by Adm Donald, told the FT that she was “deeply concerned” about the findings of his report.

“[I] will carefully follow the actions of the air force and the Pentagon will take to address this problem and act on the report’s recommendations.”

Democratic senators yesterday called on Robert Gates, US defence secretary, to explain how the US Air Force lost track of hundreds of sensitive components for nuclear weapons.

John Kerry, a senior member of foreign relations committee, responding to a story in the Financial Times, said the "revelation that the administration has reportedly lost track of 1,000 sensitive nuclear missile components is only the latest reminder of how this president has dangerously compromised our nuclear security".

"This latest alleged problem, when viewed against the backdrop of a series of related errors, raises legitimate concerns about the security of our country's nuclear weapons arsenal," Mr Kerry and Bob Casey, a Pennsylvania Democrat, wrote in a letter to Mr Gates.

The FT on Wednesday reported that a Pentagon investigation into nuclear safeguards had found that the air force could not account for hundreds, and possibly more than 1,000, sensitive components previously included in its nuclear inventory.

A spokesperson for Mr Kerry said he would next week request a congressional hearing into the issue.

The Pentagon on Thursday conceded that the investigation found a "weakness" in record keeping for weapons components, but stressed that there was no evidence that the security of the US nuclear arsenal had been compromised.

Mr Gates recently fired the two top air force officials after the investigation led by Admiral Kirkland Donald blamed the service for the inadvertent shipment of nuclear missile nose cones to Taiwan.

Ellen Tauscher, the Democratic chairwoman of the House committee with responsibility for nuclear issues who has been briefed by Adm Donald, told the FT that she was "deeply concerned" about the findings of his report.

"[I] will carefully follow the actions of the air force and the Pentagon will take to address this problem and act on the report's recommendations."