[Kermit]

There's one sure way to end the trivialization of nuclear weapons.

Hey, perhaps the US should trade one Daisycutter for every nuke they give us. You get a big bang without the bad aftertaste.;^)

[spetznaz]

For one the Pakistanis would never agree to that. Why? Simply because they know that in the eventuality of a confrontation with India the Indians would decisively win a conventional confrontation. Hence the Pakistanis believe they need a nuclear 'deterrent,' although IMHO i doubt they see it as a deterrent the way the Russians and US saw it.

The Pakistanis would not hesistae to launch against Delhi. Actually there is a much touted interview with a Pakistani general where he says that he would be willing to see India destroy all of Pakistan if it meant just destroying a couple of India's bigger cities!

We are not talking about a sane confrontation here. After all, the Russians cared for their own as did the Americans. They would not have foolsihly launched at each other since they both knew no one won a nuke exchange.

However to some of the more radical Pakistanis the nuke is simply a huge semtex strap on explosive for a suicide attack..... although instead of plastique it has fissible material, and instead of a Jihadi mule to strap it and carry it they have IRBMs.

Think of it as a suicide attack on India, although packing alpha particles, beta radiation and gamma rays this time.... and a whole lot of heat and PSI impact. But still basically a suicide bomb.

And that is the danger. Dealing with people who are intelligent to build WMD but foolish enough to use them.