Maybe this is of no surprise, but being the Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command is a gig that demands abundant brain power.
Navy Adm. Cecil Haney made that clear Friday on the campus of Kansas State University as a part of KSU’s Landon Lecture Series inside McCain Auditorium.
“Strategic deterrence is a complex subject that is foundational to global security — it depends on the situation and one size never fits all,” Haney said. “Yet, it is bounded in the understanding that no adversary can escalate their way out of a failed conflict. No adversary will gain the benefits they seek and restraint is a better option. And if necessary, we will respond in a time and place and domain of our choosing.
“Any nation that thinks they can get away with a strategic attack on the United States of America — or our allies — must think carefully about their actions and potential consequences.”
As commander, Haney is the leader, steward and advocate of the nation’s strategic defense capabilities, and provides support and information to U.S. leaders, including the president and secretary of defense, about threats around the world.
Haney spoke on a wide range of topics, including cyber security, Russia, North Korea and nuclear security.
Haney said Russia, in particular, has suffered from sanctions, but added there is still concern.
“At the same time, Russia is building conventional military forces, investing in nuclear weapons — including those with tactical ranges — and is pursuing hyper-glide vehicle technology,” he said. “With the current news of Russia penetrating, via cyberspace, our political mechanisms, Russia continues to engage in destabilizing actions in Syria and Ukraine, developing counterspace and cyberspace capabilities and conducting activities below the threshold of the international community’s alarm — all the while declaring and recklessly expressing its willingness to escalate if required.
“Having said that, Russia must understand it would be a serious miscalculation to consider nuclear escalation as a viable option. Russia will not achieve the benefits it seeks.”
After Haney took questions from the audience, he commended KSU and the region for its work in obtaining the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF), saying such research is key to strategic deterrence.
“I’m really proud of the fact you have a bio security institute that is (will be here), I think that’s really important,” he said. “It’s an area we also have to continue to look at.”
Haney also noted in his address a former family connection he ran into during his visit to the Little Apple Friday.
Haney mentioned his connection to LaBarbara James Wigfall, the associate professor of landscape architecture and regional/community planning at K-State..
“I’ve gone to church with her parents, back there on the east coast when I was stationed at the Pentagon,” he said. “Pretty neat to see that connection here.”
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