Rumsfeld imposes moratorium on civilians operating military equipment

From CNN National Security Producer Chris Plante

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Friday imposed a Defense Department-wide "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."

The department-wide order from the secretary of defense comes two weeks after the collision between a U.S. Navy submarine and a Japanese fishing ship near Hawaii in which nine Japanese are presumed dead. The Navy and Army had already implemented similar policies unilaterally in the aftermath of the incident.

"This policy is effective regardless of how closely military personnel supervise the civilian visitors," according to a statement from Rumsfeld's office.

"This moratorium specifically includes any aspect of the actual operation of military vessels, aircraft, vehicles," and other weapon systems, "including individual small arms," the statement said.

"Civilian and contractor employees who must operate military equipment as a part of their duties are not considered civilian visitors for the purposes of this memorandum and are not covered by this moratorium," the statement said.

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