Is There a Morale Crisis in the US Nuclear Force?

Beyond the Air Force's embarrassing suspension of 17 nuclear missile launch officers lie two broader questions.
Do those entrusted with the world's most destructive weapons feel stuck in a dead-end career field, given the momentum toward more nuclear arms reductions? And is there a morale crisis among these officers?

This matters because the missiles -- 450 of them standing in below-ground silos, ready for launch at a moment's notice -- form a critical part of America's nuclear defenses.

There is little room for error. Although none has ever been fired in anger, the risk of accidental launch or unauthorized intrusion is real.

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