WASHINGTON — A Pentagon advisory group condemned the Air Force for a dramatic deterioration in managing the nation’s nuclear arsenal and recommended Friday that it consolidate nuclear responsibilities under one command.
The decline has eroded international confidence in the United States’ ability to provide a nuclear umbrella of protection, the task force said in rolling out more than 30 recommended changes in the structure, funding, inspections and staffing of the Air Force’s nuclear responsibilities.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Pentagon reporters Friday that the advisory group made a strong argument for unifying its nuclear management.
“One of the concerns that I had, based on previous revelations about shortcomings in the Air Force’s stewardship of its nuclear arsenal, is the lack of unity of command and not having one person or organization accountable for the overall mission,” Gates said.
He added that although he isn’t sure what the right answer is, the Air Force is considering the idea.
The latest review is one of several studies and reports triggered by a series of Air Force blunders in its handling of nuclear-related materials — missteps that prompted Gates to sack the top civilian and military leaders of the service this year.
