The general in charge of the US Air Force's
long-range nuclear missiles was sacked for
conduct "unbecoming of a gentleman"
during a business trip to Russia in July, a
report says.
The newly declassified document says Maj
Gen Michael Carey drank too much and met
"suspect" foreign women.
He could not recall significant events or was
"untruthful", the report says.
Gen Carey's removal came days after the Navy
sacked an admiral overseeing nuclear forces over
illegal gambling.
The two dismissals follow several other incidents
affecting the US military's nuclear establishment.
In August, a nuclear missile unit at Malstrom Air
Force base in Montana failed a safety and security
inspection, after which a senior security officer
was relieved of duty.
In May, it was reported that 17 officers in charge
of maintaining nuclear missiles were sidelined
over safety violations at Minot Air Force base in
North Dakota.
Forgetful?
Michael Carey, a two-star general in the 20th Air
Force, was responsible for maintaining
intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) at three
bases across the US - a total of 450 missiles.
He is now special assistant to the commander of
Air Force Space Command.
No details were given when he was removed in
October.
The internal report by the Inspector General of the
Air Force is based on interviews with the general
and members of the US delegation to a nuclear
security training exercise.
"Maj Gen Carey consumed alcoholic beverages to
the extent that it impacted his conduct," the report
says. It adds that this included briefings, banquets
and other events.
It goes on: "Maj Gen Carey engaged in
inappropriate or improper behaviour when he
chose to meet up with and continued to associate
with the foreign national women... especially
given his own acknowledgement that the women
were suspect."
He had met them at a restaurant and danced with
one of them a day after, it says.
The investigators interviewed Gen Carey, but he
appeared to have forgotten substantial parts of
what had happened in Russia.
Their conclusion was that the general "either had
a poor recall of significant events, perhaps due to
his alcohol consumption, or was untruthful
during the interview".
The general had been rude to the Russian hosts
and to members of the delegation, they said.
And he had complained that his forces "suffered
from low morale".
Gen Carey has made no comments following the
release of the report - the result of a Freedom of
Information request.
Before being sacked, Gen Carey was in charge of
9,600 people at three operational wings, had
served in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring
Freedom. and had received 13 major awards.
US Navy Vice-Adm Tim Giardina was removed
as second-in-command of US Strategic
Command two days before Gen Carey was
sacked.
He had overseen the nation's nuclear weapons
forces.
He was accused of using counterfeit gambling
chips of "a significant monetary amount" at an
Iowa casino.