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Carey’s firing was one of several setbacks for the nuclear force this year. The Associated Press has documented serious security lapses and complaints of low morale and “rot” within the force, as well as an independent assessment of “burnout” among a sampling of nuclear missile launch officers and security forces.

After the Russia trip, a member of the delegation lodged a complaint about Carey’s behaviour. That person, described as a female staff member in the Office of the Secretary of Defence, asserted to investigators that on the delegation’s first night in Moscow, July 15, Carey was drinking and speaking loudly in a hotel lounge about how he is “saving the world” and that his forces suffer from low morale.

The investigators said Carey, whom they interviewed at length on Sept. 4, seemed to forget substantial portions of what happened in Russia. The report also said that at times he clammed up or gave testimony at odds with others in the delegation.

“Maj. Gen. Carey was generally less credible than the other witnesses,” the report said, adding that at times he was flippant and refused to answer certain questions.

“Gen. Carey either had a poor recall of significant events, perhaps due to his alcohol consumption, or was untruthful during the interview,” the report said.

Gen. Carey either had a poor recall of significant events, perhaps due to his alcohol consumption, or was untruthful during the interview

After interviews with seven delegation members, the investigators concluded that Carey “engaged in inappropriate behaviour” that amounted to “conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman,” as defined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.