By Tiffany Craig Investigative Reporter
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Published: Thu, June 05, 2008 - 6:55 pm
Last Updated: Thu, June 05, 2008 - 9:43 pm
Tiffany Craig
Two top ranking Air Force officials are forced to step down. Secretary Michael Wynne and his Chief of Staff General Michael Moseley have resigned.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates forced the men out after a number of nuclear mix-ups that he calls "a decline in the Air Force's nuclear mission focus and performance."
One incident involved a B-52 bomber that flew across country with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. Another reason for the dismissal, Taiwan was sent four electrical fuses for ballistic missile warheads instead of some helicopter batteries.
There's no word out of Washington about possible replacements.
So how will the shakeup at the Pentagon impact the 40 Billion Dollar AF tanker deal that Northrop and EADS won over Boeing in February?
Alabama's leaders in Washington quickly started asking questions.
Senator Richard Shelby doesn't believe it will have a direct impact but is confidant that Boeing will use the negative news in its favor. "Well, I think Boeing will do anything they can to sabotage or set aside this award contract to Northrop Grumman EADS, they've shown that. They're in a fierce fight but I've said all along, the Air Force did the right thing. I believe that."
Congressman Jo Bonner doesn't believe the resignations will affect the tanker. “Neither Secretary Wynne nor General Moseley was directly involved in the tanker selection process. It was Air Force and Department of Defense acquisition professionals at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and in the Pentagon who selected the KC-45 as best meeting the needs of the Air Force. At the end of the day, the requirement for the replacement tanker remains urgent, and the program must go forward.”
Governor Bob Riley weighed in on the resignations as well. “Neither General Moseley nor Secretary Wynne was involved in the tanker acquisition process and this will not affect the tanker decision in any way."
Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine says "I do not believe that the resignations of Secretary Wynne and Chief Moseley will have an effect on the KC-45 tanker program. First, these resignations were created by circumstances not related to the tanker acquisition process. We continue to look forward to the GAO decision and we're confidant we'll have a favorable outcome."
The Government Accountability Office is expected to report back on the fairness of the tanker contest by June 19th.
An area wide celebration is expected on June 20th.
Groundbreaking on the tanker facility at Brookley is scheduled for 11am on June 28th.
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i doubt any of mine can type but they are jealous of the computer lol