If I think back to the Cold War, there was a time when strategic deterrence and nuclear

deterrence were synonymous. And when we talked about the strategic deterrent and strategic

deterrence, we were really talking about nuclear deterrence.

All of that changed, though, as we began to see that other capabilities had strategic effect.

I do believe that we are going to have nuclear weapons for as long as I can see into the

strategic future.

And I believe that we're going to have to figure out ways to use them effectively for the

purposes that they're really designed to fulfill, and that is to make sure they're

never used again.

Hey, welcome back to the Modern War Institute podcast. I'm John Ambo, editorial director at

MWI, and in this episode, MWI's major Jake Moraldi talks to retired U.S. Air Force General Bob Kaler.

In 2013, General Kaler finished an impressive 39-year military career that culminated in his command of the U.S. military's strategic command,

better known as Stratcom.

General Kaler talks about the role of nuclear weapons and U.S. strategy, major changes to the ways in

which we conceptualize things like deterrence, as well as the shifting global strategic

landscape and what that means for the United States and the U.S. military. Before we get to the

conversation, just a couple notes. First, hopefully you're already subscribed to the MWI

podcast, but if not, you can find it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify,

tune in, pretty much any place you get your podcasts.

And second, as always, what you hear in this episode are the views of the participants

and don't represent those of West Point, the Army, or any other agency of the U.S. government.

All right, here's Jake Moraldi and General Bob Kaler.

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