But the wolves are not deterred by our nukes because they know we are too chicken to use them.
If that were the case, we’d already be overrun.
Strategic nuclear deterrence is factored in to the procurement decisions made by our primary nuclear adversaries, China and Russia. That being said, our strategic nuclear arsenal was never designed to do anything except: A) retaliate against a nuclear strike, and; B) keep a potential aggressor from making that nuclear strike to begin with. The only exception we have to this doctrine are tactical nukes, and as they aren’t part of the strategic picture to begin with they are the exception that proves the rule.
Any idea that the nuclear sword was meant to deter conventional attack is secondary and even tertiary to its primary mission. Our conventional forces are the prime mover when it comes to conventional deterrence, which is why we planned for conventional engagement in Europe without the use of nukes as a strategic weapon.