U.S. Defense Secretary to announce plan for nuke operations reformNovember 14, 2014 - 08:38 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will announce on Friday, Nov 13, a comprehensive plan to reform U.S. nuclear operations based on two reviews he ordered after a series of incidents involving nuclear personnel, two defense officials said, according to Reuters. "While our nuclear arsenal remains safe, secure and effective today, the reports tell us we must take action now in order to ensure that remains the case in the future," the officials said on Thursday night. Following a news conference at the Pentagon on Friday morning, Hagel will travel to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to discuss the plans with nuclear personnel. Officials say that addressing the shortcomings in managing America’s nuclear arsenal will likely take billions of dollars. In March, the head of the nuclear missile wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana resigned and nine officers were removed from their jobs over a test-cheating scandal that involved 91 missile launch officers. The Montana base is home to a third of the nation's nearly 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles. Some 19 missile crew members at 91st Missile Wing at the Minot Air Force Base were decertified after a poor showing in a March inspection Last year, the general overseeing the U.S. arsenal of intercontinental missiles was fired for personal misbehavior, just days after the deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command, which oversees America's nuclear arsenal and space operations, was relieved of his post during an investigation into gambling issues. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. Ucom launches network modernization efforts in few regions of Armenia In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. |