re: There may be a positive side to all this.
"I agree with you - a total cock up. This is getting a little too dangerous."
It isn't getting too dangerous, it has been dangerous. And with Americans asleep at the switch [and they still are for the most part].
And this does not imply that Europeans or other countries had anymore awareness of it [contrary to the myth, America is generally far more aware of international matters than the "international aware" Europe].
Let's not forget that it was not too long ago that Pakistan and India were considering and loudly sabre rattling about using nukes on each other. If that doesn't fit our definition of dangerous, I don't know what qualifies.
And let not forget obvious things like Khan's business of selling nuclear bomb material to highest bidder.