The Nation - News from Sept. 24, 1985

The government has been removing about 5,000 persons a year from nuclear-weapons jobs because of drug, alcohol, psychological and other problems, according to Defense Department records cited by a scientist. Assuming the figures mean thousands of people with similar problems are still on duty at any given time, Dr. Herbert Abrams said the situation raises questions in an age when nuclear war could break out through “miscalculation, misunderstanding or misperception.” A Defense Department spokesman said the military is satisfied with its program.