"I think the American people are very smart in understanding our country is very trustworthy with nuclear weapons. We've had them from the beginning. But they have also been critical for keeping the world more at peace than it would have been if it hadn't been for the American nuclear umbrella"

Haley Barbour's quote recommends that the American individuals are wise in acknowledging the importance of the United States' nuclear weapons. He indicates that the presence of these weapons has been a stabilizing force in the world, keeping it more serene than it would have been without them. This is likely a referral to the Cold War, when the United States and the Soviet Union had a nuclear arms race, however never utilized their weapons against each other. Barbour's quote suggests that the American people comprehend the importance of nuclear weapons in keeping peace and stability, which they are wise in trusting the United States to utilize them responsibly. This trust is likely an outcome of the United States' long history of not utilizing nuclear weapons, even in times of conflict.