Defense Threat Reduction Agency Director James Tegnelia is being raked over the coals by an irate Nevada Congressional delegation who characterized his comments to Washington reporters about an upcoming conventional weapon test that he said would produce a “mushroom cloud over Las Vegas,” as “irresponsible and inflammatory” according to Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.). The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) denounced Tegnelia on the House floor. She claimed the Nevada delegation was not briefed on the planned test explosion of a 700-ton conventional weapon. Administration officials say there was notification. A National Nuclear Security Administration spokesman told the Review-Journal that it is “highly unlikely” the blast will be felt in Las Vegas, but he did acknowledge that there would be a mushroom-type cloud of smoke.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.