Air Force Fires Two More Nuclear Commanders

WASHINGTON (AP) — There are more signs of distress in the nation's nuclear force. The Air Force has fired two commanders and disciplined a third in response to internal investigations of leadership lapses and misbehavior at two of its three intercontinental ballistic missile bases.

The most senior officer to be relieved was Col. Carl Jones, the No. 2 commander of the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. He was dismissed "for a loss of trust and confidence in his leadership abilities," and has been reassigned.

The actions Monday were confirmed to The Associated Press in response to an AP inquiry about an internal Air Force investigation of two commanders at the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. A separate investigation was conducted at F.E. Warren.

(Story by: Robert Burns, National Security Writer, The Associated Press)