Rededication

According to Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell, airmen at the three bases visited this week by Defense Secretary Robert Gates “seemed to appreciate the fact the Secretary delivered this [safeguarding our nuclear arsenal] message personally.” Morrell told reporters June 11 at the Pentagon that Gates believes the “hundreds of airmen” he spoke with “are committed to rededicating themselves” to the nuclear mission, following the abrupt firing of the service’s top two leaders. At least one reporter traveling with Gates to Peterson AFB, Colo., gave a slightly different interpretation of the SECDEF’s reception. On his travels, Gates did not publicly elaborate further on his rationale for ousting Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne and Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley, referring only to failures identified in the Donald Report. Asked whether the Pentagon planned to release all or part of the report, Morrell responded: “The Secretary … detailed a great deal of the findings in the Donald Report, and I think he is of the mind that that will serve as the declassified version of the report at this time.”