http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/articles/20080814
August 14, 2008 -- Gates slashing rival chain-of-command elements in Air Force publication date: Aug 14, 2008 Download Print Previous | Next August 14, 2008 -- Gates slashing rival chain-of-command elements in Air Force The Air Force suspended its Cyber Command in an order issued on August 11. The decision came prior to General Norton Schwartz assuming the Air Force Chief of Staff position. The shakeup in the Air Force follows the discovery of a rival chain-of-command operating within the Defense Department, particularly through the Air Force, that took orders directly from Vice President Dick Cheney's office. WMR reported on this rival chain in a series of exclusive reports. The decision to suspend the Air Force Cyber Command deals a blow to the interests of key members of the rival chain, including the commander of the 8th Air Force in Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Barksdale was strongly hinted as the permanent home for the Cyber Command by the previous Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff General Michael Moseley were fired by Defense Secretary Robert Gates in an attempt to eliminate the rival chain, which was responsible for a series of unauthorized operations involving nuclear weapons, including the movement of six nuclear-armed cruise missiles on a B-52 from Minot Air Force Base to Barksdale last August. Other Air Force nuclear incidents involved the movement of Minuteman III nose cone fuses to Taiwan, the possible loss of over 1000 other nuclear components, the falling asleep of three Minuteman III Minot missile officers with nuclear firing codes, the recent truck accident involving a Minuteman III in North Dakota, Minot's flunking of its nuclear surety inspection in May, and the virtually unreported incident at Minot involving the theft of military equipment by nuclear security personnel last year and an Air Force "gag order" on the incident. The decision to suspend the Cyber Command is being blamed on inter- service rivalry between Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen and the Air Force, with Mullen favoring the Navy's own cyber- warfare program over that of the Air Force. The rivalry argument is an attempt to divert attention away from the serious problems involving the command and control of nuclear weapons. And the Navy is not immune to the nuclear command problems. Yesterday, the Commander of Navy Strategic Communications Wing One at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, relieved Commander Shawn Bentley of his command over the VQ-3 Boeing E6-B Mercury "Ironman" squadron. The squadron provides airborne communications between the White House National Command Authority and U.S. nuclear ballistic missile submarine -- what is known as the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission to communicate nuclear launch codes from the president to deployed nuclear missile submarines on patrol around the world. Bentley had only been on the job for three months when he was fired. On April 25, 2008, WMR reported on key members of the rival Air Force chain: Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff, David Addington, remains in office. Air Force Secretary Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Moseley were fired by Gates on the same day. Brigadier Gen. Lawrence Stuztriem, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Strategic Studies Group - CHECKMATE, was promoted last month to Major General. Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, Commander 8th Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, has lost his much-sought-after Cyber Command component. Col. Bruce Emig, Commander 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base was relieved of command after last year's cruise missile nuclear incident, and Maj. Gen. Stephen Goldfein, one-time Commander Air Warfare Center, Nellis Air Force Base and now Vice Director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, has, according to senior Air Force sources, been cooperating in an investigation of Moseley. Moseley's one time executive officer, Brigadier Gen. Thomas Tinsley, reportedly died last month from a "self- inflicted" gun shot wound while serving as Commander of the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. Emig's replacement as 5th Bomb Wing Commander at Minot, Col. Joel Westa, remains in command following the failure of the base's nuclear surety inspection. When he fired Wynne and Moseley, Gates stated that other Air Force officials could follow them in being sacked. Dr. Lani Kass, ex-Israeli Air Force officer, Cyber Warfare Task Force Director, U.S. Air Force/Project CHECKMATE until May of last year, has served as a Special Assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff and is currently listed in that position under the new Chief of Staff General Schwartz.
