Report: Nuclear weapon drivers sometimes got drunk

[sabra]

Source: Salon/AP

Intoxicated nuke custodians "indicate a potential vulnerability;" two agents arrested while on the job
By Associated Press


The U.S. Energy Department's watchdog says government agents hired to drive nuclear weapons and components in trucks sometimes got drunk on the job, including an incident last year when two agents were detained by police at a local bar during a convoy mission.

The Energy Department's assistant inspector general, Sandra D. Bruce, said her office reviewed 16 alcohol-related incidents involving agents, candidate-agents and others from the government's Office of Secure Transportation between 2007 through 2009. A new report Monday said the incidents "indicate a potential vulnerability" in what it described as a "critical national security mission."

There are nearly 600 federal agents who ship nuclear weapons, weapon components and special nuclear material across the U.S. The report said when agents drank overnight after checking into local hotels, their trucks were in "safe harbor" status.

Read more: http://www.salon.com/news/nuclear_weapons/?story=/news/feature/2010/11/22/us_drunk_nuke_drivers

[wtmusic]

1. 600 agents/2 years/16 alcohol-related incidents while nuke materials were safe

Sounds like a fairly stellar record to me. :shrug:

[Brickbat]

2. I'm sure financial investors, CEOs, bankers, and lawyers never, ever drink at lunch.

Ever. Ever, ever.

[awoke_in_2003]

5. well, they tend to have drivers...

and aren't toting around nuclear material. (Damn, I cannot believe I just defended a ceo)

[Brickbat]

6. I wasn't worried about their driving.

I was worrying about the huge amounts of damage they do while buzzing on the job.

[awoke_in_2003]

7. shit, they do that stone cold sober...

and on purpose.

[Brickbat]

8. ...

:thumbsup:

[bluedigger]

3. So.

After work and off the clock. Were they responsible for providing security as well? If not, as long as they were suitably recovered and ready to resume their job in the morning, this is a non-issue to me.

[somone]

4. As long as they don't pick up hookers

let them have a beer.