Not sure what you're getting at? Globalization means economies and governments are linked more than ever before. 100 years ago, the US could afford to not give a shit what happens in Iran. No longer. Do you know what nuclear fallout is? If all of china and all of the US were nuked, the fallout would cover the entire planet I imagine within a matter of weeks. Nuclear weapons are not typical explosives, where the damage is typically local to the area of detonation. What are these requirements you speak of? I find it hard to imagine a situation where a country will just accept being nuked. Make fun of bush all you want - if your plan includes actively using nuclear weapons bush had leagues more common sense. That's a flip-flop on your previous views that no military is necessary.