USAF ICBM officers suspended for cheating on nuclear warhead proficiency exam

[gary]

In a story in the New York Times today by Helen Cooper, it is reported that -

Originally Posted by New York Times, Helen Cooper

WASHINGTON — The Air Force said on Wednesday that 34 officers responsible for launching the nation’s nuclear missiles had been suspended, and their security clearances revoked, for cheating on monthly proficiency tests that assess their knowledge of how to operate the warheads.

Story here -
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/16/us...w&rref=us&_r=0

[multiweb (Marc)]

Pot and red buttons certainly don't mix.

[Dennis]

Thanks for the link Gary, some quite interesting insights into human behaviour there.

Monotony seems corrosive in these types of occupations. I recall allegations of employees sabotaging automated car production lines due to being agonisingly bored out of their skulls with the repetitive nature and monotony of their daily routines.

Cheers

Dennis

[TrevorW]

Hey they could hire monkeys how much brains does it take to turn a key and push a red button, come to think of it why not hand the contract over to a computer I think Cyberdyne Systems would be interested.

[Brian3. (Brian)]

Imagine half the world saved from anialation because of exam fraud...
Mother of God any species that points 20,000 nuclear weapons at itself
can only be defined as totally nuts.
No doubt there are some who would try to argue that uncomfortable truth away?
Brian3.

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Pot and red buttons certainly don't mix.

Yea man, stay off the red buttons. They're a bad trip!

[Starless (Brian)]

If there was more use of pot there would be no need for red buttons.

[Barrykgerdes]

I read that news item and took it with the proverbial "grain of salt"

It looks more like a protest against a beaurocracy gone mad that needs a piece of paper (certificate of competence) to justify its existence

I expect a proper investigation will result in reinstatement.

Barry

[BPO]

Originally Posted by Starless

If there was more use of pot there would be no need for red buttons.

Heh... Flashback...

I just remembered how the University of Auckland's Student Union nightclub, Shadows, used to employ a half dozen gigantic Tongan bouncers in an attempt to minimise the nightly mayhem.

Except on those rare occasions when Shadows hosted the NORML parties. Those nights all they needed was the bar manager. The patrons just lay around, staring glazily into nothingness, croaking out things like, "Heeeeyyyy, maaannn... Lookit all the, like, all the freaky lights, maaannn..."

I'm in no way advocating marijuana use (even the smell makes me nauseated). It was just a funny memory.