Nuclear weapons only work – if at all – as a deterrent against the use of nuclear weapons by other organized states.

Against an “asymmetric” threat (i.e. terrorism), you could a) explode one or a series of very low-yield tactical weapons in an effort to destroy the limited infrastructure terrorists rely on – inciting hatred against America and a worldwide backlash against our citizens and our vital interests.

Or you could b) launch an all-out attack against a country or set of countries that harbor or sponsor terrorists – causing all the adverse effects of (a), and probably also creating a worldwide ecological disaster on the scale of what killed the dinosaurs.

At this point, scientists predict that even countries with as small an arsenal as India and Pakistan used their weapons on each other, the resulting clouds of dust and smoke would cause worldwide famine due to the “mild” nuclear winter that would result.

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