Chuck Hagel said...

Our nuclear deterrent plays a critical role in assuring U.S. national security and it is DOD'S highest priority mission....

If Congress would not agree to that request, it would be a pretty devastating message that we send to the world.

There's a perception that it is the military's responsibility to fix the problem. Problems are not fixed by militaries.

the mission he has been tasked with is to degrade and destroy, not to contain, not to minimize, et cetera.