>... tested to see if they remain safe and reliable for use in the nuclear stockpile. Note here this expression "safe and reliable", taken from the DoE's foun

>... tested to see if they remain safe and reliable for use in the nuclear stockpile. Note here this expression "safe and reliable", taken from the DoE's founding legislation, is officially re-interpreted to be very, very different from what a normal person would conclude. Most particularly, "safety" doesn't mean anything about risks to the public or to people handling equipment and materials. It does not mean anything about them not exploding in their warehouse or while hanging in a bomber. It does not mean protecting against release of radioactive materials or contamination of groundwater or ecosystems. It does not mean keeping people from stealing plutonium or whole weapons. It does not mean keeping bombs from falling out of planes at random (which has happened), or from crews setting them off accidentally or on purpose. It does not mean keeping bombers loaded with them from crashing or missiles with them on top from exploding in their silos (which have both happened). The only responsibility "safety" places on the DoE is ensuring that, when the button is pushed, the bomb really does go boom. "Reliability", meanwhile, means only that the boom is as big as it says in the specs. It probably requires legislation to change these re-interpretations.