Why Defense Secretary Jim Mattis just visited US nuclear forces

Although it was little noticed, on Thursday, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis visited U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. STRATCOM is responsible for U.S. nuclear strike and missile defense capabilities.

By visiting Offutt, Mattis sends a quiet message of deterrence to North Korea, but also to China, Iran, and Russia. The retired Marine general knows that the only effective way to deter nuclear strikes is to remind adversaries that the U.S. will act with overwhelming force if necessary. In short, they must be more confident in our ability to destroy them than in their ability to destroy us.