Reports of serious security lapses, a cheating scandal, drug possession, low morale and burnout in the U.S. nuclear missile corps have recently been revealed. In fact, half the missile launch officers at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana had to be removed from duty. Malmstrom, by the way, is home to 150 nuclear-armed Minutemen 3 intercontinental ballistic missiles. It represents one-third of this country’s ICBM force.
And this just in. Maj. Gen. Michael Carey, commander of the Air Force’s arsenal of land-based ICBMs, has been relieved of his command. Something about a drunken bender while in Moscow for a nuclear security exercise and meetings with Russian counterparts.
Would that these were subplots from Dr. Strangelove. Alas, in a world where jihadist evil is the new, existential normal, we’re reminded–in disturbing fashion–what threats to life-as-we-know-it still lurk.