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Return to Article: IG: Energy cannot account for nuclear materials at 15 locations

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  I worked at two national (weapons) labs for 12 years during the Reagan, GHW Bush, and Clinton. I can tell you first hand that nuclear materials security and accountability has always been a problem. Conractors operate the labs with too limited oversight by DOE government employees. The only congressman who ever bought fear to the hearts and souls of DOE was Rep John Dingell of Michigan. His frequent visits were met with fear and trembling.

  Zulu Posted February 26, 2009 12:37 PM
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  Is there really missing material, or are the records incorrect? That's the first question that needs to be answered.

  Dane Posted February 25, 2009 5:40 PM
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  Perhaps Don and W.D. should read the article, not just the headline. Another interpretationmight be that the Bush folks could not clean up the mess left by the Clinton folks. Enough of the petty sniping, this is serious and I hope someone in authority thinks so and actually does something.

  Kevin Delaney Posted February 25, 2009 11:40 AM
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  Perhaps also counting the nuclear inventory of a Mid-East ally would balance the books?

  M Onger Posted February 25, 2009 10:04 AM
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  Looks like the Bush administration was unable to fix what occured during the Clinton administration - see the 2001 report. Hope Obama can do a better job!

  Hope Posted February 24, 2009 1:45 PM
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  When there is nothing for decades but bad news about securing sensitive documents, losing classified computers, and now "misplacing" and "writing off" hundreds of tons of nuclear material, why does Congress NEVER question the operating model of the national laboratories? All of the national labs are run by separate (and competing) contractors. They are not government employees! They are never held accountable because of the billions of dollars they bring to their districts. Of the roughly 120,000 employees of DOE, about 100,000 are contractors. It's the inmates running the asylum.

  Allen Posted February 24, 2009 10:35 AM
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  This is totally unacceptable . Is there NO accountability any more?

  Linda Posted February 24, 2009 9:12 AM
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  Is there nothing that Bush appointies cannot screw up???????

  W.D Jackson Posted February 24, 2009 9:03 AM
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  "Heckuva job, Brownie!"

  I fear this is just tip of the iceberg regarding what will be uncovered about the last eight years of mismanagement.

  Don Posted February 24, 2009 8:18 AM
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  Good thing they use metrics, because the depleted uranium doesn't sound so bad, like 208 tons would. How do you misplace 208 tons of something? There's a bigger question here. Why are they concerned about depleted uranium if it is harmless? That's what the Pentagon, VA, and manufacturer of hardened munitions have been telling our troops and veterans who have Gulf War Syndrome, cancer, and leukemia. Depleted uranium is definitely a unique element; it becomes non lethal in the presence of disability claims. All sarcasm aside, look up Iraqi birth defects for a look at what those missing 208 tons can do.

  Anthony Weishar Posted February 24, 2009 7:14 AM