A B 52 mistakenly leaving Minot with Nukes is like an NRA member walking into an airport with two pistols, a shotgun and an assault riffle. One doesn't accidentally do this.

It was either a show of force to our enemies (those who make faces at us and don't bow down to Halliburton and Exxon) or it was a deployment of nukes overseas ordered by Cheney and his crew. I'd like to think it was the former. If the latter, no doubt the air force blew the whistle on what Cheney's up to to stop him.

This story is like Gulliver's Travels. There are some talking about the safety of nukes, (aw, there was no danger here if the plane went down, yadda yadda yadda) then there are those talking about nukes in the hands of kooks (Bush, Cheney, "Iran's been making faces at us again and want nukes of their own.") Sadly, this great nation has been taken over by the former.

God bless the US and God Help the rest of the world!

Tim, LA, California

I too have heard about the air men who supposedly died in questionable circumstances. I definately want some answers. I am afraid this may be another staged terrorist attack. Possibly someone blew the whistle before the plane could crash.
k. wentz, eureka,ca.u.s.

kateri wentz, eureka, ca., u.s.

It was just reported on Free Speech TV channel - INN Report - that four of the seven airmen have died within the last week in mysterious circumstances". Will the national media report this, too? The body of a Captain in the group, and three others - one, cause unknown, one in motorcycle accident, and one in auto accident. Does this seem suspicious to anyone but me? If they are investigating the incident, what was the crew doing "on leave"?

Roz North, Dixon, NM

In answer to some of these comments I favour complete nuclear disarmament under the NPT that means all Nations including Russia. Please read the NPT and see People Against the Bomb on YOuTube. Nuclear weapons should be in the same category as chemical and biological weapons.
Go to the Hiroshima peace site and the BBC archives and listen t the voices of Hiroshima survivors. You will find them on www.peacesource.net

Barrie Machin, Perth, AUSTRALIA

The fact is that most of The Republic of These United States of Americas's citizens do not want a war. The media is controled by the same corperations who control the UK's media, and most of the world's medias. Things are never as they appear to be. They play us all for the chumps we are in every country.

Tim, Warren, Republic of These United States, AR

There is absolutely no excuse for this incident, none. Very high level "heads should roll" on this. The government's spin that there was low danger is bogus. Anytime a nuclear warhead is airborne, there is risk; but when it is airborne and the pilots don't know it, the risk is exponential. This is frightening and, again, inexcusable.

Denise S. Wood, Arlington, Virginia

Fact of the matter we know for sure (even then it's debatably true) is that a B-52 overflew US territory.
Is it feasible or even possible to say that 6 nuclear missiles were "accidentally" carried to another base.If anything it was the wrong base as the destination. Such A simple "mistake" in post-9/11 US? I think not.
It takes a long time to get a bird in the air, and a lot goes into checking it and monitoring its flight. Flying is a strict matter, especially with the Air Forces job being airborne transportation.
Yes, weapons are transferred everyday, is this about US proliferation?No.
Can it be considered as psychological warfare?Maybe, against who, you can't be sure.
Does it intimidate other nations? Yes.
Is the (anyone's)military known for always telling the facts, better yet, reporting EVERYTHING it does to the open public? That is a definite NO. So why start now? Headgame or media leak?
Does it scare the hell out of Americans "coincidentally" near 9/11 anniversary? Yes

Brandon Keys, Seattle, WA, US

Here's the problem - It's not so much that weapons flew over the country, or even that they were nukes. The problem is that somebody had a serious lapse and screwed up a carefully designed protocol for handling weapons. This screw-up just happened to be particularly big, and the entire chain of events leading up to the mistake needs an extreme degree of scrutiny to make sure that it doesn't happen again. Having said that, I think the same kind of response is appropriate when even a crate of hand grenades or machine guns is accidentally shipped inappropriately.

But what I still don't understand is why ANY military aircraft on a domestic flight is armed with any ordinance on the outside of the fuselage. If you're shipping bombs - especially big expensive nuclear ones, they ought to be in a sturdy crate in a safe place, and not out dangling in the breeze under the wings of a B52

andy, Portland, ME

Hombres Del Mundo:

It is my opinion, that the processes of unwarehousing, preparing, hauling and loading , 6 nuclear missiles on a B52 bomber, preparing the bomber, bomber crew, fueling, inspections of all operations, clearances, take offs, etc. et al, is highly simple minded to conceive and beleive, was all jis an accidental buncha happenings.

It is highly probable, we are going to experience another 9-11 event, and maybe a large number of same to convince a lathargic Amerikan public , dar is someone out ta git em.

Unfortunaltly , Americans do not have to look over the seas to find the enemies of America.

No King but our Heavenly Father who aint from Roma, OK

Kelly A., Wakefield, Sandpoint, , Idajo

B-52's, whose automated manifest system maintained by Israeli Software companies (PTECH - MITRE - SAIC) instructed someone to load nukes on a plane.

ingrid Lawrence, Bronx, USA/New York

This was no mistake!This has Bush/Cheney writtin all over it! It has been reported that there are massive buildups of troops ,weapons depots, tents cities ,and border blockades being built up along the Iran/Iraq borders!Those nuclear bombs were headed for the middle east!My God what is it going to take for the silent majority to speak up?Do you want a nuclear war just for the oil?I pray not!Impeach the war mongers in "OUR" White House!

Kevin, Birmingham, AL

Funny, I did not here the UK or other countrys talk trash about the US in1944, some of you have got it right something not right.

Doug, Santa Ana, USA

1)The US is mounting nuclear cruise missiles on B52s going to Barksdale AFB, even if the warheads are not supposed to be armed. This is not because they want to move the missiles, or they'd ship them in appropriate containers.
2)Barksdale AFB is the jumping off place for the Middle East. Look at their website.
3)...?

z, new haven, usa

Enough of all this anti american british venom for such a small mistake.
Remember that America saved your asses some 60 years ago and that D. Rumsfeld, the great philosopher, once said "Stuff happens".
Anyway, we are lucky that LtCol Arthur "Bud" Holland wasnt piloting that bomber.
Otherwise...

Ronnie, PARIS, FRANCE

Hey at least they didn't accidentally DROP one on us-whew!

gladia, Riverside,

Ok 1st it was over 3 hrs NOT 6, reading comprehension ftw!! 2nd “Broken Arrow” boy, stop sitting on your couch and watching movies. That is a Hollywood make believe code. Really it must be hard to believe that the stuff you stare at day and night on your tube is not reality even the “reality shows” are edited to create situations or the appearance thereof.

I am as aggravated with the leadership in the United States as anyone, and I think the reason we have such crappy leaders is the selections we are given. Most of the time we have to choose the lesser evil, so to speak. Unless you’re a sheep that always votes for a party no matter what.

I am sick of our “friends” bashing us, and we could use a lot less friends like that. Any of you European’s that have nothing better to do then bash the United States and its people sadden me. We who would come to your aid, and die by your side on a moments notice are belittled and persecuted because of a leadership we ourselves don’t care for.

Sad Panda, Nashville, TN/United States of America

Not that I know anything --but-- I think there is a fox guarding the chicken coup

Ray, Chatham, Canada

Laughable... the self appointed world police having a go at everyone non Christian. The only country in the world to have used a Atomic bomb, the only country in the world to have chosen to drop that bomb on a city of civilians, proven liars to bomb woman and children to make money and the friendly fire incompetents of the world. Worlds biggest arms dealer and now this... cherry on top.

Don't know which is funnier this or the gullible nincompoops that think the sun shines out of the collective U.S arse against all evidence to the contrary.

Justin, Horsham, W. Sussex

so now we can expect the next 911 to happen while the air command is in stand down, AGAIN. OMG LOOK AT THOSE IRANIANS!!

marshall , grafton, WI, AMERIKA

This quote gets drummed into the heads of all American service members from the moment they report to basic training: "I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons."

And the transportation and location of nuclear munitions is the most carefully guarded of all military secrets.

So what I find most troubling about this whole thing is the exposure itself.

When it is perfectly within their power to keep this hidden, why on earth would they ever let anybody know?

What are they up to??

Roscoe, Wichita, KS

Excellent timing for this 'story' to break. Do you really think this would be a news story if the Americans weren't trying to tell the Russians something?

Sally, Newcastle upon Tyne,

This is no accident. Reaching for a can of tomatoes and picking up peaches is not quite the same as picking up a nuclear warhead out of the wrong pile of missles. Somebody probably leaked the fact that these missles were headed to Iran. We are Hell bent on attacking Iran at Israel's behest. Get used to it. Util the people have had enough,things will continue to spiral out of control.

ROBERT, San Antonio, Texas

We need to have a closer view of the things that our Military are doing today. Stop playing games and take there jobs for real.We are at war.

Donnie Artis, NEWCUMBERLAND, PA

It sounds if these nukes were not stored properly, to begin
with. Curious to know if these cruise missles off loaded
with nukes how they are stored. War heads probley never
removed from the missle and lord knows what security
an old cruise missle was given.

OLD SAC AIRMAN

J Kinman, Jackson, Tn

"No Dress Sense !" Yes John from Stroud. This is truly an outrage indeed ! It's bad enough we Yanks start wars based on bogus intelligence and mistakenly fly nukes across the country, but our president's lack of dress sense proves beyond all doubt that we are most unfit for the world power game. Why I'll bet Mr. Bush even forgot to lift his pinky when he sipped tea with the queen. A most untidy show. Oh, if only American boarding schools would allow caning.

Dan, Winsted, USA / CT

Hey John from Eire,

at least we have an army....

Ewan , sherborne,

To Martin Harris: You are right in that regard, no argument from me, but as you will know, there was at least one very close shave where most of the safety devices failed/some of the connventional explosives that trigger the warhead did go off. I don't think this incident had any risk of detonation though.

I would be much more worried about losing a warhead, which has always been the biggest worry - remember what happened with the B-52 over Spain and the scale of the recovery operation? Losing warheads and not knowing you have lost them is a bigger worry still...

Christian, Cambridge, UK

I could understand the vitriol here if the B-52 in question overflew UK airspace, but this is an internal issue that will be resolved. If your Frog buddies across the channel had done something similar, do think in a 1,000 years they'd admit it in the press?

An officer or two will be fired, a bunch of others will be reprimanded, and life will go on. Pull those frilly knickers out of your collective bums and lighten up a little.

Marco, Miami, FL USA

As for myself, the dear late character actor Sim Pickins, as Major Kong, said it best in the movie Dr. Strangelove:

'Well I've been to one world fair a picnic and a rodeo and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones...And I got a fair idea of the kind of personal emotions that some of you fella's may be thinking. Heck, I reckon you wouldn't even be human beings if you didn't have some pretty strong personal feelings about nuclear combat.'

Elsiha Moor, London, England

Hold fire with the anti-American stuff on this one folks. It's not quite the legendary WWII bomber found on Moon story, but its as equally baloney.

JS, London,

To Barrie Machin of Australia


"The US fails to honour the NPT and the commitment to get rid of WMD."


These weapons were in North Dakota in order to be DECOMMISSIONED (that means 'to get rid of'). They were mistakenly left on the plane.

Willy, Cleveland, Ohio

Did you know and this is fact, that USA have lost at least to nuclear bomb to date, never been found!

The time comes when you have to stand up and say you cant solve the problem of weapons of mass distruction by employing the attitude, if they got a gun we need a bigger gun(this is the USA way).
The tat for tat row's between the these nuclear power will be the end of us all, Pakistan is veru unstable and the hold nuclear weapons, why concentrate on Iran when S Korea and Pakistan can be said to be an even bigger risk having the weapons to hand. The fact is when Iran gets these weapons and it will, the US will not be able to bully them into selling oil.
Simple fact is countries act like gangs, and with Russia, China and Iran getting richer the indebted USA and UK will loose more and more power. The funny thing is these weapons wont leave the factory these countries (Iran, Russia and China) can bring about a far worst fate for the USA and UK through financial withdrawls.rolereversal

Lee, newport, Wales

The Airforce is lying! Nuclear warheads can't be picked up by mistake. Nuclear warheads are stored separately in underground, blast-proof bunkers with tight security. Ground crews can't go in to these high security areas without escort!!! The military are counting on the ignorance of the American public in order to swallow this story! Something is brewing? Beware a false flag attack on September 14th, while the Airforce sleeps....again!

Dean Jackson, Washington, DC, DC

When the Iran war starts which the USA is itching for, USA might accidentally drop a few nuclear bombs and say that it was just an honest mistake. Anybody can make a mistake. Isn't that true?!

Good that Britain has withdrawn her troops to Basra airport from which they will hopefully be able to fly out as soon as the USA B52s leave their bases. Watch out for those B52s taking off.

Alok K Bhattacharyya, London, UK

A mistake? Really. You can't make mistakes like that - either you have armed the plane with nukes or you haven't.

Sounds to me like someone did that on purpose. Perhaps the plane was supposed to disappear off into thw wilderness and nukes never to be found again. Perhaps some little country in the Middle East planned this but was foiled.

Something really fishy about this story, and it just don't add up.

Cyber Cohen., Here,

Stuff like this does happen…and why can’t the government do stuff in secret why does that whole world have to know everything. I’m not saying that they had this all planed but why does every body and every thing have to know everything….nothing happened RIGHT? no nothing did so just SHUT UP your not going to get hurt they are safely landed and nothing is going to happed…and even if the planes did crash nothing was going to happen they where not ACTIVE mean they had to be turned no…our military is a lot safer with these power weapons then you would think…and if the plane would crash they nuclear war heads can’t be stolen yeah like someone is going to drive a 24 wheeler flat bed right up to the crashed plane and with a crane pick the up and put them on the truck…without anyone finding out and if someone was to do that they would get shot down before they could put their foot on the gas peddle

nate, brookfield....WI, USA

That's three of you who have commented about the flight time being six hours. Did you READ the article? It says it flew for more that THREE hours before landing in Louisiana. It was carrying SIX missles.

And Dr. Strangelove was a documentary???!!! Of what?

David, St. Paul, Minnesota

I've lived in the U.S. for my entire life and, with the exception of a few brief forays into Canada, have never left this country. Nevertheless, the United States of America strikes me as a very strange and often scary place. What's with all the paranoia? What's with all the massive stockpiles of Weapons of Mass Destruction? (Just a rhetorical question - I know why this country has all those weapons.) “All evidence we have seen so far points to an isolated mistake." One thing I've learned living among all these behavior-engineered fellow citizens for the past 46 years: You really can fool nearly all the people all the time... Cheers

Rob Wheten, Florence, Massachusetts, USA

Re comments from "John (Pro-American fan of bombing) Claro"

Your comments regarding the UK's most serious mishandling of nuclear weapons are edited so as to be misleading. The article you refer to of the 1st Sept clearly states the folowing:

"A nuclear warhead was damaged in transit when its container slid off a wet trailer as it cornered. The warhead rolled onto the tarmac and was dented within its container"

The weapon was subsequently decommissioned.

Hardly in the same league as flying out of a military airbase in a B52 fully armed with 6 nukes....

NJB, Toronto, Canada

Sounds like some aircrew realised the enormity of what is about to happen.The surge aint working,peak oil acoming, a nation of sheeple waking up to reality of Shrubs master plan,need some fireworks to get em back on message-Bomb-bomb-bomb Iran !!!.Said air crew now "disciplined" and no doubt to be replaced with more compliant grunts. Goodnight and good luck !!!

Mike, Newcastle, UK

Oh dear, they've made one completely harmless mistake with these weapons in the 60 odd years they've been protecting the free world with them as the most successful deterrant against war in Earth's history.

Adam, Sheffield,

If this sort of things happen in the US, imagine in Iran...

Fabio C, London, UK

Mr. Claro, When the IRA bombed innocent people they hid behind balaclavas..

W. Asted, Leiden, Netherlands

Am I missing something here?

So the missiles had warheads when they shouldn't have. That might be a fundamental error in the important issue of nuclear weapon handling - but where was the danger?? Like the story says " there was no risk of a nuclear detonation even if the B52 had crashed, because the warheads can only be activated with Presidential approval."

Mark, Belfast, UK

Predictable anti-american diatribes (by the way what has the president's dress sense got to do with anything John from Stroud?), and equally predicatable knee jerk defensiveness from some of our more chippy transatlantic cousins. Can't everyone get a grip and see this for what it really is - a little reminder to Vlad the Fisherman and Mohammed "Ahdbetterbombisraelajad" that the biggest cock on the block still packs a punch. It's lile the story elsewhere of the US 3 day plan to destroy the Iraniain's military capability. It's all good propaganda and sabre rattling. Anyone who is old enough to remember the Cold War would recognise it stratight away.

And as for accidental detonation I think this is a lot harder to achive than just dropping your load from a great height!

Tim, Kingston,

Oh great, the warheads were armed but not activated. Hmm... we all know machines malfunction but hey nuclear warheads are the exception to the rule. By the way, why bother about Iran when you can't even monitor your own nuclear weapons. America's biggest enemy is it's self (Internal proliferation). How do you make mistakes with such weapons of mass destruction that can wipe out your own country? Maybe the wapons were to be planted in Irqa or iran. Just imagine this scenario, if the weapons had goneoff and one of the 'axis of evil' was blamed, there would have been swift military 'retaliation' before the actual cause is identified. Now, it could happen cos we know the shoot first, if anyone survives shoot again and then ask whatever is left questions policy the US has. I thnk its the floride added to the water causing the Undescribable State of Aparent insanity

Adegbola, London, UK

I am much relieved to learn that this was "an isolated mistake".
I would be mighty shook-up had it been a daily occurance.

Robbie Rohan, Great Chart,Kent, UK-

The media seems to be going berserk over the fact that the plane overflew part of the US with nuclear weapons on board.

I, on the other hand, think the issue is that the USAF goofed as to where the warheads were, or should have been. I assume that nuclear weapons are beng moved around us constantly, and the media as usual is missing the point. Am I wrong?

Len

Len, Tucson, Az USA

Look at a picture of the crew. If they mean business and arm the nukes, they always put on cowboy hats. Don't any of you Brits watch the movies?

James P, Sacramento, California

WoW! That is crazy! We talk about how other countries cannot be trusted with nuclear weapons and the United States Military goes and makes a mistake like this! I am happy that everything went well and that no one was harmed. But who is to say that next time will be the same!

G. Cabasug, San Francisco, California

Bush may be an idiot, but have you seen our Vice President. Please look at the larger picture, namely the Russians flexing their muscle recently. Also, I can get from North Dakota to Louisiana on a commercial carrier in less than 6 hours including changing planes. I agree, something smells foul here, but would it be the first time a government has lied to its people. I think not.

Lee, New York, NY

The mistake presumeably being that it was flying in the wrong direction for 6 hours.
The stand-down will probably be to have their Tom-Tom's reloaded with the correct 'places of interest' list in place of the I-40 eateries list they were obviously working from last week.

Andy Carr, Burgess Hill, England

. . . and of course, if these had detonated, anyone left standing in the USA would have blamed it on Islamic extremists.

Cynical, South of England,

how come the USA have weapons of mass destruction and yet it devastated Iraq on suspicions of having the weapons? rules for some!!!!!!

paul cacciattolo, melbourne, australia

In 1978 a Titan ICBM smashed through the concrete lid of its silo and landed in a farmers field in Kansas.

It didnt detonate because its altimeter wasnt set.

or else no more Kansas, Toto.

...and the hydrogen bomb lost off the coast of Cape May NJ....or the nuke lost in the sea of Japan.

These "broken arrows" are too numerous................

Ponyboy, Eddystone Pa, US of A

Next time I guess it will read "US Bomber accidentally drops nuclear bomb on British troops" .What will they call that, "friendly bombing" ?.

Patrick, London, UK

Sir,
Safe in their hands? "Whoops we're in jail dude!" I wonder if the culpable have had a suitable talking to?

SC, London, United Kingdom

These weapons were smuggled to Iran, hidden, and now we await the intended news that the Iranians hold WMD and are an imminent threat to the US and allies.

Cue invasion. Cue WW3. Cue the downfall of the US.

Samuel , Glasgow,

All a bit Dr Stranglove really. Was the chap involved called General Jack D. Ripper ?

Dan Avey, Reading,

ok just a few pointers: 1 the bombs would not have been impact triggered , so if the plane crashed no accidental detonation. 2 nuclear disarmament is not rational if you are the only participant, too many other countries with the capability to disarm just the US. 3: please don't judge all americans simply on thier president, actually this should apply to all nations, we usually only get reports on the actions of thier leaders, a lot of the ordianry people will be much like you and me, just trying to get along.
definitly worth investigateing why the failsafes were breached though.

Ben, folkestone , uk

Nuclear warheads don't "accidentally" end up in the wrong place. B52's take off and land every day. We were tipped off about this one. These things could have been heading for Iran or somewhere else. To believe this was all simply a "mistake" is naive and shows a total lack of curiosity and skepticism.

Bill, Champaign, IL

Why do you need to have a Stand down in 9/14 to look at all the controls, why can’t you look at the controls (documents) today? A stand down will put America in at a disadvantage should some air event happen. Air combat command should look at the mistakes of 9/11 and not repeat them, this stand down does just that.

mrethiopian, portsmouth, NH

To all the peaceniks....IF the plane had crashed, the nukes wouldn't have gone off unless they were ARMED (so no "accidental detonantions", then - its not the same as dropping a loaded shotgun cartridge). If they had broken up upon impact...well, it would probably have spread radioactive material across a small part of the US Mid-West.

No big deal, the US has already covered much of Nevada with radioactive material anyway, casualties would have been minimal. In fact, it being the Mid-West, the end result of any possible crash would have probably raised the US national IQ average by a couple of percentage points...

JP, Guildford, UK

Martin Harris wrote:

"I can not see any wrong doing,Back in the 1960 they flew all the time. Everything is fail safe. I was i was in muntions from 1961-1963 on B-52G.At DOWAFB Maine."

And you say this in the light of the prevalance of US 'friendly fire' instances? Of course, everyything is fail safe in "muntions".

eckythump, Salisbury, UK

one pair of nylon stockings, 50 gold dollars, one russian-american phrase book...gee a guy could have a real good time in Vegas

kirk, Rotherham, uk

Maybe these munitions were fail safe and unlikely to detonate but, loading them onto an aircraft and then three hours pass before their absence is noticed. Can't they tell the difference between standard and nuclear weapons? Heaven help us if such weapons ever had to be used in anger, they'd probably load concrete warheads. Someone's procedures are decidedly sloppy. The personnel concerned should be court martialled.

Alec Dobinson, York, UK

its always a "mistake" with the americans isn't it!

nikaila b, leicester, uk

Guess who would have been blamed had the plane crashed? (thank god it didn't ofcourse)

Mohammed, London, UK

"nothing can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong,
go wrong, go wrong........"

Alan Nelkin, el paso, USA /Texas

And they say Pakistans Nuclear weapons are not in safe hands..........................

Muhammad, Karachi, Pakistan

Where's the info about the stand down? I don't care about the 911 stand down. You're implying that on 09-14 the USAF will stand down.

PLEASE link your info. This is important. Thanks

Amerikagulag, chicago, iL

I'm only suprised they weren't dropped on the UK in yet another "friendly fire" incident. With friends like these who needs enemies. God bless America? God save us from America more like.

The Newt, Birmingham, England

Isn't it a little scarry that this incident happened so close to our country's 9-11 anniversary?

James Brown, Atlanta, Georgia

So uh, can I keep my .50 BMG then?

Hans Woehlck, fairlee,

In Response to K. Urban and Barrie Machin,

The B52 was flying across the United States as part of a dept. of Defense effort to decommission Cruise Missiles. The mistake was that the warheads should have been removed at Minot but were not. Please do not take cracks at the US as not obeying the NPT. Was it a stupid mistake, yes. Would the US use these missiles so nonchalantly? No.

James, Washington, DC, USA

Presidential approval?

Now that's a scary thought!

Isn't GW the most dangerous person on earth today?

m athar, Dorset, UK

makes me want to run away to canada...

will, Morro Bay, California, US

This is so incredibly stupid I couldn't help but to point out that crap like this has become the "norm" for the good ol USA - where are those millions of dollars from Iraq? Where's Osama? We lose every thing...

Stoooopid.

Libby, Boulder, CO

I agree with JOHANN DOHMANN. Come on USA, were you patrol Russian borders by any chance...... Good.. the buggers seem to be dead set on spending UK taxes by patrolling our borders and sending the RAF in to a frenzy.

Stewart Setter, Basildon, UK

You are worrying about nothing, KR of Stockport. I don't think the U.S. has any need to nuke a third-world country. You would be better concerned about whether TU-95 Bear Bombers are actually carrying nuclear payloads "accidentally" as they fly patrols on the edge of British airspace.

Mr. Putin's displeasure might turn out to be a lot more monumental than Mr. Bush's.

James P, Sacramento, California

Why did it happen? Well, people aren't usually hired into the army because they have an IQ of 150, ya know?

starling, Lancaster,

'I would'nt want that plane to be involved in a case
of friendly fire'

Jonathan, London, England

Did someone let the cat out of the bag that thse weapons were headed overseas, thereby forcing the military to fess up? How else could these weapons have conceivably ended up being sent to a primary staging point for Iraq?

Maybe someone wanted to use them covertly to make sure that the world supports action against those dangerous "Eye-ranian" war mongers?

And how is a complete Air Force stand-down supposed to help matters? Mainstream propaganda outlets are bombarding us as I write about Russian bombers being intercepted this morning over UK airspace, just as they were early last month, yet the US Air Force is publicly announcing a 24 hour stand down? I've got my calculator out and the numbers aren't adding up.

I guess that's what happens when you have successive Administrations who lie and deceive in order to accomplish thier goals. Even if the explanations are true, it doesn't make sense to believe them.

Shorebreak, USA,

Another reason for the US to agree to the NPT. If there are NO nukes, there is not a chance for "accidents" to occur. One cannot even imagine the grave consequences if this plane had crashed!!

Melinda, Ohio, US

Oh, come on, Barrie from Perth. Where's your sense of humor? We always abrogate treaties. Its our solipsistic nature -- we recognize and honor only ourselves. But we're very creative. Did you know we actually designed Global Warming as an experiment in weather control? Unfortunately, it got out of hand so we're all personally sorry for that big drought you're having. We plan on offsetting the effect by creating a nuclear winter, so there's no need to worry. All our B52 pilots are dusting off their cowboy hats and getting ready. Everything will balance out in the end.

James P, Sacramento, California

The America-bashing created by an incident such as this reminds us on the other side of the pond that
many Britons have not yet accepted their nation's irrelevancy in global affairs.

Dave Kerr, Carlisle, PA, USA

So ordering a complete stand down of the air defense system on 9/14 and telling the whole world about it is supposed to be a good idea. If we get another "terrorist" attack on that day, we'll know who's fault it is.

Security, Loveland, CO

By all means let's make public whenever the entire air force is going to stand down for a day. Now that's great security! Terrorists, mark your calendars! Look for the next false-flag attack on the 14th...

Steven Z., North Little Rock, USA, Arkansas

'' Military experts said that there was no risk of a nuclear detonation even if the B52 had crashed, because the warheads can only be activated with Presidential approval. ''
Now that is something to be concerned about.

John, Eastbourne, East Sussex

Nuclear warheads by mistake? What did they think was on the cruise missles? nerve agents , chemical weapons.
At least they knew they were missing , well at least they knew when the Aircraft landed so that's ok then.
I believe the Squadron Commander in charge of munitions is called Homer Simpson , Doh! oNly in America

Wayne, Kidderminster, England

Can't spell, can't talk properly, no dress sense, AND THATS JUST THE PRESIDENT!!

Did you mean speak properly? As for dress sense, we proudly don't give a damn about European fashion sensibilities.

Ross, Wyoming, USA

and yet US says that other the atomic wepons of other countries are in sloppy controls

Rashid, mardan, pakistan

To Barrie Machin, Perth, Australia

I'm sure you feel much safer if the US got rid of all its nuclear weapons leaving Putin and Russia as the dominant nuclear power on the planet.

Brian, syracuse, US

Mr. Urban is quite correct: the crew should've recognized the nuclear warheads before they were airborne. The conventional ones have a big smiley face on them; the nukes have nasty looking skull & crossbones and a "no smoking" sign.

They were safe from accidental detonation, though. Our crews are not allowed to bring lighters for the fuses unless the President says so.

James P, Sacramento, California

I was in Belarus about 10 years ago and was stopped at night by a group of heavily armed militia who searched our car. We discovered later that a check at a nearby army base had discovered that a bomb was unaccounted for and a search was instigated. It was never found. Now that's scary!

carole chapman, corridonia, italy

So, the plane crashes and someone steals a missile, what then?

duncan green, wells, somerset

John from Stroud:

You forgot bad table manners and overbearing personalities. I'll bet you think the pilot was drunk, too, and had a thought about bombing Louisiana.

Try visiting the 'States, John. You might find your impressions change a bit if you took the time to experience us a bit. We're really not all that bad.

James P, Sacramento, California

"With friends like that - WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?

G J BUNTON, SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE"

Gosh, you sure have us pegged, don't you, G.J.? You're probably right. We're such terrible baggage. I'm sure the U.K. can handle all those nasty Russian TU 95 bombers and all those rude fundamentalist Muslims in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. Oh, and I forgot Iran, who kidnapped several of your "fighting force" and utterly humiliated your country very recently. And even though our close air support has served to save a lot of British lives during the past years, I'm sure we're just a bunch of ungrateful cowboys you can all live without.

Please accept my apologies for everything we've done to or for you. We'll try to do better, I promise.

James P, Sacramento, California

Yes, Michael: we lost two 1 MT warheads in the Indian Ocean... or was it off the coast of Spain? Oh, who's picky about it.

Your still safe. If anybody had found them, they'd be on EBay by now, credit card accepted and free shipping.

James P, Sacramento, California

Something doesn't jive here. The system checks that govern the transport and deployment of nuclear weapons by the USAF make this type of error virtually impossible.

Instead, we may be seeing a cover story being floated in the wake of a possible and embarrasing leak about the covert transport of of these cruise missiles and their warheads to Barksdale AFB.

Barksdale, readers may recall is the US air force base where B-52 long range strikes were launched against both Iraq and Afghanistan in the past. Given the latest sabre rattling from the Bush Administration toward Iran, prepositioning these weapons for a possible attack on that country may have been the objective here.

dick reilly, chicago, Illinois

relax, dudes. no british troops between n. dakota and louisiana.

the only appropriate response is.... "d'oh!"

jem, london, uk

Was it a mistake or publicity stunt

Mark Gale, Vannes,

Was the president already out of the country on Aug 30? When is he due back in the country? After Sep 11? Where is everybody? Where is Cheney? Where is Rove? Condoleeza? Rumsfeld? Gonzales? All the usual suspects? Who's protecting the US mainland? Where is our military? Today, Mexican truckers are free to roam US highways. That means the front and backdoors are open. Not a good time to have nukes flying overhead.

G M Marcus, Miami,

No need to get your dander up people. I'm retired U.S. Army and I'm not too keen on those spoiled Air Force types, but having worked with many of them over the years I know that the overwhelming majority of them they are extremely dedicated and professional. The bottom line is that no danger was posed to anyone and nothing left U.S. Air Force control. People will be fired for this, careers ruined etc., as it should be. The fallout (forgive the pun) will be a more secure nuclear arsenal. I have no doubt about that.

We air our dirty laundery, unlike many nation states. It's a cleansing process that results in better procedures in the end. Let's all focus on real dangers and not hyped-up ones.

Ross, Wyoming, USA

All systems go wrong occasionally, especially when people are involved. Has anyone done an independent LOPA on the US military control of such systems? In the chemical inductry we are made to jump through hoops to justify much lesser risks than spreading nuclear warheads over the contryside. The military should have to conform to the same standards on home territory.

Stuart, Chester,

Good job this one wasn't assigned to a punitive strike on some 3rd world country that had incurred the president's displeasure. I can understand the mistake, but the consequences could have been the elimination of an entire city when all they meant to do was knock out a radar set as a demonstartion - scary!

KR, Stockport,

''Although officials insisted yesterday that there was never any danger of the warheads detonating''

So why were they flying around the globe? Needed the fresh air?

“Standards are very exacting when it comes to munitions handling”
Really? Couldn't recognise a nuclear bomb though?

K. Urban, London , UK

To the Brits who flood these pages with anti-American venom:

From New Scientist, 30 August 2007

Two of the UK’s most serious nuclear weapons accidents in the 1980s were caused by long term lapses in safety procedures, according to newly declassified government reports released to New Scientist under freedom of information laws. The accidents look more serious than previously admitted by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

When the UK forces screw up (regularly), they hide behind the Official Secrets Act.

John Claro, Clifden, Eire

The US fails to honour the NPT and the commitment to get rid of WMD. Its Foreign POlicy is weapons lead not intelligence lead. With the huge pile of nuclear weapons and new first strike nuclear weapons the policy would be mor moral and rational. This news shows how dangerous they are even on home soil.
The are fundamentally immoral and represent a greater threat than global warming.
How can we be sure they would not have detonated.
www.peacesource.net for all the information about nuclear weapons.

Barrie Machin, Perth, Australia

That just about sums up the US. Gung HO right to the core.
Very scary bunch of No-Brainers!!
Can't spell, can't talk properly, no dress sense, AND THATS JUST THE PRESIDENT!!

JOHN, STROUD, UNITED KINGDOM

There was another B-52g plane event that was never fully reported where the nukes it had been carrying were involved.
USAF plane B-52g tail no. (59-2593) in-trouble, finally ditched 3rd Feb 1991 just short of Diego Garcia, and having lost excessive altitude.
It seems that the plane previously had been forced to dump these nukes in the Indian Ocean well before ditching, and that even now they have never been properly accounted for ?

Michael Blatchford, Bath , UK

Last week it was our troops killed by 'Friendly Fire'
Now some of their bombs have gone AWOL.
With friends like that - WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?

G J BUNTON, SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE

How did the missiles get out of the armoury in the first place... there are a multitude of checks in place when it comes to stuff like this... something isn't right and there's a smell developing.

paulc, gloucester,

Given the Russian's recent flexing by returning to cold-war long-range aerial reconnaisance, it's not surprising that a "story" like this is leaked to remind them that they are not the only nuclear power patrolling the skies.

E J Murray, Kerry, Ireland

Well that just about sums them up, and they worry about Iran/N Korea. If you can't even account for your own nukes you have a real problem, would have been interesting had the plane crashed!

Hugo, Manila,

No danger to the public! Even without accidental detonnation, a crash could have been the equivalent of many 'dirty bombs' which the administration fears from 'the evil ones'. Insanity, and more insanity.

sean, Berkeley, CA

I can not see any wrong doing,Back in the 1960 they flew all the time. Everything is fail safe. I was i was in muntions from 1961-1963 on B-52G.At DOWAFB Maine.

Martin Harris, marshalltown , Iowa

Dr Strangelove was a documentary not a movie....

Randal McFarlane, Brisbane, Australia

If anyone belives this story I have a bridge I'll sell you...its what the military call,a ''FALSE FLAG'' and this plane was gone for 6 hours and no one said it was in the air that long,so where was it???

There is something 'very very wrong here,'it dont take a B 52, 6 hours to fly from North Dakota to Louisiana,''come on people''!!!!!

JOHANN DOHMANN, EAST GRAND FORKS,, USA/MINN.

What were their pre-flight checks like? Something like, "Door closed? Check. Can't be bothered with the rest...blah blah...no nuclear missiles...yeah, yeah, let's just fly this baby."

S Padrille, London, England

It is comforting to know that the bombs were under military control at all times (as opposed to ?) Would this be the same military command that allowed this to happen in the first place?

Stu At Vance Creek, Vernon, Canada