I think Nukes are a defensive weapon, in this day and age.

-It is Israel's nuclear deterent which has stopped it from being invaded by the Arab countries in the last 30 years.
-Pakistan/India have nukes we think. So invasion by either side is too much to risk now. They are a deterent.
-Iran and N.Korea probably want a nuclear capability to act as deterent from invasion. Especially since America has continually harrased them so much recently, 'Axis of Evil' and all that.

We had nukes loaded in our submarines 24/7/ 365 during the cold war. Russians did too, so did the Americans. So everyone knew the score. One moves first, we all move. all fucked. No-one moved first.

So its all fine until a nuclear weapon is used offensively or falls into the wrong hands. I am sure a world-wide ban on nukes could be enforced eventually, but ironically I think the USA would be the biggest barrier in doing so.

steve