Smoking appears to have sparked a fire that caused $70 million in damage to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, Naval officials said Wednesday. 

The announcement by the Navy came as Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, relieved the carrier's commanding officer, Capt. David C. Dykhoff, and the executive officer of duty, Capt. David M. Dober.

Willard cited lost confidence in the commanding officer and his
failure to meet mission standards after the investigation found
unauthorized smoking by a crew member appeared to have ignited
flammable liquids and other combustible material that were improperly
stored. The other officer was relieved of duty for substandard
performance.

"The fire and the subsequent magnitude of the fire were the result
of a series of human acts that could have been prevented," according to
a statement released by the Naval Air Forces in San Diego.

Wow!  Imagine what kind of repercussions would happen if someone asleep at the wheel allowed something like the twin towers in New York to be brought down.  Oh, yeah ... nothing.  Well, hey . . . don't smoke or someone above you will pay unless he is the president.