Undersecretary of Defense for Policy James Miller on Wednesday reiterated the importance of maintaining the nuclear triad in response to growing concerns over the nuclear ambitions of countries like Iran and North Korea. “The United States must and will obtain an effective nuclear deterrent,” said Miller during a speech on Capitol Hill sponsored by AFA, the National Defense Industrial Association, and Reserve Officers Association. The triad is the best tool to promote regional stability at a reasonable cost, argued Miller. Not only does it provide security for the United States, but it also assures “our allies and partners that the US nuclear umbrella remains in place,” he said. He also emphasized the need to “roll back” North Korea’s nuclear program and to deter Iran from gaining nuclear weapons. Miller’s July 17 talk reflected the points on the nuclear deterrent that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made in a speech in Nebraska last month.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
