The good thing with the Soviets was that they had enough intelligence to weigh the situation and were not suicidal. Why? Because they knew that no matter who launched the first strike a nuclear conflict would lead to their destruction (as well as the destruction of the USA). That was the beauty of M.A.D! The USSR would never attack the USA out of the need of self preservation; and the USA would never attack the USSR out of self-preservation as well. A beautiful arrangement.
The problem with MAD is that it requires non-suicidal logical people, and most Islamic nations are either suicidal or illogical (usually both). That is the danger with the 'Islamic bomb' since the chances of it getting used are quite high.
Some months ago there was a report of a Pakistani general who said he would be willing to see the whole of Pakistan nuked in an Indian reprisal if it meant destroying 2 to 3 Indian cities. Think of that! This guy is saying he would be willing to see his nation's major cities, industrial centers , political setups ....everything that makes Pakistan Pakistan irradiated completely by India, JUST so that he can destroy 2 indian cities?
That is not logical! It is actually downright stupid! It is like saying you would like to see your whole body torn apart and destroyed just so that you could chop a finger off your enemy! Does not compute.
Anyway the Soviet threat was always present (which is why i guess i see footage of kids in the sixties being told to hide under desks ....as if that would help in a thermonuclear attack) ....but as someone said: I would be more afraid of a guy with one nuclear bomb than a guy with thousands .
That is why both the USA and the USSR had myriads of nuclear ordnance. Part of the reason was to ensure at least part of it survived a surprise attack by the other party ...but the major purpose was for deterrence!
However if you listen to people like UBL who said it is a religious objective for Islamic nations to get a nuclear weapon you have to wonder: would you trust someone who views the world through jaundiced eyes and seems more ready to 'meet Allah' than live a long life with an atomic device? What if the Pakistani ISI 'lost' a nuclear device to al Queda and they managed to somehow get it into the US through Mexico? What if Hamas managed to acquire some small scale atomic device that could take care of Tel Aviv? What if Iraq managed to get one working nuke on an IRBM aimed at Israel?
Do you doubt for one moment they would not use it? Chances are they would say darn the consequences and go ahead with their plan! They would not care that the reprisals would be legion against them. After all with Allah who cares if Israel turns Baghdad (and most of Iraq's other major centers) into sheets of fused glass. If Hamas destroyed Tel Aviv they would not care if all Palestinians are rounded up by angered Israelis ...they would not care since they have finished their job. If al Queda blew up Dallas, or part of NYC, or Washington DC, or (..........) they would not care if we sent off some B-1s and B-2s and nuked every single hideout we think may hide their surviving operatives! They would have finsihed their mission.
That is why these Islamists are dangerous. Unlike the former USSR these jahadis have neither intelligence, logic, or a love for their offspring and families (who would obviously suffer in the reprisals).
The USSR may have seemed daunting ....but compared to the Jehadis the USSR was a huge Amur Tiger in a zoo cage since they had the capability but would not use it unless they had to (the same applied to the US). However the jehadis can be likened to a pack small Chihuahuas ...but ones with rabies and a fervent desire to attack and bite. Not as deadly as the tiger ...but unlike the tiger they are uncaged and more than willing to bite with their infected maws!