Military Bars Civilians From Controls

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Friday ordered the military to temporarily ban civilians from the controls of all weapons until questions are answered about the role of civilians in a deadly submarine accident near Hawaii.

“Effective immediately, I am directing a moratorium on permitting civilian visitors to operate any item of military equipment when such operation could cause--or reasonably be perceived as causing--an increased safety risk,” he told military chiefs and civilian service secretaries.

“This policy is effective regardless of how closely military personnel supervise the civilian visitors,” Rumsfeld added in a brief memorandum.

The Navy and Army have already temporarily barred civilians from controlling ships, tanks and other combat equipment in a step prompted by the Feb. 9 accident in which the attack submarine USS Greeneville struck and sank a Japanese fishing boat as it rose to the surface near Hawaii.

Sixteen American civilians were aboard the sub and two were at the controls at the time of the accident, in which nine Japanese are presumed to have died. The Navy said the two were under tight supervision.

Rumsfeld told reporters earlier this month there was no evidence the civilians had anything to do with the accident. But the Washington Times reported Friday that a preliminary Navy investigation concluded the crowd of civilians had hindered normal safety precautions on the Greeneville.

Rumsfeld said Friday that his moratorium order extended to both the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard.

The Pentagon said this week Rumsfeld was a strong supporter of civilian visits to military bases and ships, aircraft and other weaponry.

“This moratorium is not designed to restrict civilian visitors from observing their military--it is designed to ensure their visits are conducted as safely as possible,” Friday’s order said.

Air Force and Marine Corps officials told Reuters on Thursday they were studying their current policies but had made no temporary changes yet.

President Bush said last week he wanted the Pentagon to review its policies on civilian participation in military exercises such as riding on warships and in fighter jets.