Seems to me that the nuclear policy of the United States has ALWAYS ruled out "defensive use only".
In other words, the USA has always reserved the right to "strike first".
(As we did in WW2, for a matter of fact)
Without such policy, seems to me that "mutual assured destruction" would lose some of its "deterrent effect".
So I'd have to say that ol' white joe's statement -- at least in this instance -- was somewhat "in line" with longstanding USA nuclear doctrine...