“I imagine that they had a stern talking to and probably received a
reprimand,” Mr Lehner said, adding that he did not know whether they were
military or civilian personnel.
The MDA is tasked with developing and testing the US’s missile defence system,
a vast network of missile sites designed to shoot down incoming nuclear
weapons before they strike. On its website it compares the precision of its
work to “hitting a bullet with a bullet”.
The agency’s main concern is that porn sites – along with gambling, internet
games and music downloading pages – could allow viruses into its
highly-sensitive networks. Iran’s nuclear programme was severely set back by
Stuxnet, a virus reportedly created by the US and Israeli governments.
Lieutenant General Patrick O’Reilly, the director of the MDA, was harshly
criticised in a Pentagon report in May, which accused him of screaming and
swearing at junior staff. One subordinate said he “broke the spirit” of
employees at the agency.
“Witnesses testified that O’Reilly’s leadership style resulted in a command
climate of fear and low morale,” the report concluded.
Lt Gen O’Reilly denied the allegations, which are being reviewed by the Army.
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