"The series of frightening and unforgivable Air Force mistakes that have come to light this year surrounding the service's handling of nuclear weapons has shocked us all.  From flying six nuclear warheads across the country unawares, to shipping nuclear weapons fuses instead of batteries to Taiwan, to the 5th Bomb Wing flunking its weeklong nuclear surety inspection, the Air Force's care of nuclear weapons has obviously been negligent," said Rep. Markey.

"I applaud the Secretary of Defense for insisting upon accountability at the highest level of the Air Force.  The magnitude and frequency of these errors indicate a deep-seated problem within Air Force culture, practice, and training. The entire Department of Defense should immediately recommit itself to ensuring the safety and security of our nuclear stockpile before one of these mistakes has lethal consequences."

In August 2007, the Air Force transferred six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to Barksdale Air Force Base, La. The missiles were flown to Barksdale and sat unguarded on the tarmac for several hours before anyone realized what happened, 30 hours after the mistake was made.

In March 2008, news broke that the Air Force accidentally shipped classified nuclear warhead fuses to Taiwan in 2006. Then last month, the 5th Bomb Wing failed its defense nuclear surety inspection, despite having months to prepare and being under close scrutiny since the incident. Inspectors found glaring deficiencies in the wing's ability to protect its nuclear stockpile.