One thing you're forgetting though is that having a nuclear weapon and using one is this huge step guaranteed to provoke horrific response (unless you're the only kid in town as we demonstrated in Japan). I would hope that through our diplomatic channels we've made it abundantly clear that any nuclear power unleashing their might on another country in an offensive attack would have a huge nuclear target painted on their center of government and the very leaders that ordered such an attack. That policy would also include any weapon traced back to a country that ended up in the hands of terrorists.

Everyone keeps equating Mideast leaders with the suicide bombing wackos and yet history has shown no correlation. In fact, it shows exactly the opposite that, despite the aggressive bluster, these bozos are major survivalists. People that rise to the heads of government didn't generally get there by just brute force and irrational actions. They almost always are businessmen or received inherited wealth, have amassed huge fortunes, and their families are well taken care of. They simply do not have that proven formula found in suicidal idealogues. I'll bet that even Hitler never believed he'd fail or he'd have never taken on the world. For Iran to launch a preemptive strike against Israel they'd have to be assured that, not only would Israel not be able to counterstrike but that none of Israel's allies would either.

In many ways countries that aquire nuclear weapons get this slap in the face about the responsibilites associated with them and often mature in their dealings with their neighbors. Suddenly their insecurities about their enemies having military superiority over them disappear and this new realization hits them that the weapon is horrific that they've painted themselves into a box. They have this power that can not be used for anything more than defense because to use it otherwise makes them a target they never were before. Look at Pakistan and India for an example. I'll be willing to bet that the deaths on both sides from armed conflict have decreased dramatically since they both became nuclear powers and you can't tell me that there aren't Islamic leaders holding the triggers.

When you sit back and analyze this phenomena it's sobering that this is how things have turned out but at the same time it's got this ironic comfort to it. What's not comforting is this huge fear that's gripped our country and allowed government leaders to exploit the less analytical amongst us.