Specifically, the Administration has advised the Russians that they can always rely upon a "launch on warning" strategy to mitigate stated concerns that American defenses could presage and enable a preemptive U.S. nuclear strike.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Current U.S. strategy calls for riding out a nuclear attack if necessary, which reduces the danger of having to launch on warning before all the facts are known but increases the danger of being caught on the ground in a surprise attack.

FORBES: Nuclear Weapons: How Few Is Too Few?

Were American weapons on day-to-day alert to be dismantled or otherwise disabled, however, more than a "launch on warning" option would be foreclosed: The deterrent value of the United States' arsenal would be eviscerated since, as a practical matter, it would be politically (if not technically) problematic to restore these weapons to operational status.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Successful Special Operations require a significant intelligence-gathering apparatus on the ground and close proximity to launch raids with little warning time.

WSJ: Max Boot: Bin Laden's Death Changes Little