From Deseret News archives:

Errant HAFB shipment raises concerns for Gates

Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008 12:46 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday he sees "areas of concern" about the handling of non-warhead components of the nation's ballistic missile stockpile.

Gates, on April 15, received an initial assessment of an investigation he ordered after Minuteman missile components were shipped from a Defense Logistics Agency depot at Hill Air Force Base to Taiwan in 2006. The shipment was supposed to be helicopter batteries.

News of the shipment ruffled feathers in the Chinese government and prompted Gates to immediately request an investigation by Navy Adm. Kirkland H. Donald.

In the transcript of a Wednesday press briefing at the Pentagon, Gates said the errant shipment to Taiwan contained no nuclear material, "but there were sensitive electronics, sensitive materials and things."

"The initial report of Admiral Donald's effort has been several recommendations, mostly to try and get more information," Gates said. "There are some areas in terms of the handling of classified material where there can be some improvements."

Another area of concern is where there are inadequate handling methods used for classified, secret technologies, Gates said.

Story continues below
EG&G, a division of San Francisco-based URS Corp., the defense contractor that runs the Utah depot from which the missile parts shipped, has refused a Deseret News request for information about inventory and shipping techniques.

Donald "made some recommendations on the processes for handling some classified materials and documents," Gates said.

The full investigation report is scheduled to be provided to Gates by May 24. Details of the investigation will not be available before then "to maintain the integrity of the investigation," Defense press officer Lt. Col Todd Vician said.


E-mail: sfidel@desnews.com

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Health proposal not 'reform'

Here's why the GOP Moderat's HIDE from Healthcare Reform, until 2010 passes....

Letters: No Nativity in D.C.

That's so old I fell off my dinosaur (A.K.A. a Utah Senator) laughing.

MWC expand? Get rid of deadweight

Yeah like the PAC 10 wants a school that loses to IDAHO and the Baptists in...

Band just fails to make final cut

That's a "glass half empty" title to your article, considering all that this...

Letters: A plea to senators

Exactly. We have the rights as Utahns to pollute at will & let poor people...

Jazz rookies had to grow up quickly

Spot minutes and limited playing time are hard times to show yourself, the...

Whats up with article saying Koufous didn't play in Saturday's win at...

I respect and honor Elder and Sister Nelson, and I read the DesNews in...

I, too, am concerned about the reasons for not retaining Richard White who is...

Maynor is the man. Time to trade D-Will while his value is still high.

Advertisements
Advertisement