Why Nukes?

Jonathan Schell asks this question in “Reaching Zero” (in the latest issue of The Nation).

What I wonder is why not nukes? The A-bomb has such a terrifying potential; why aren’t people more afraid of it? Schell thinks it’s because “nuclear strategy” says that we need nukes to protect ourselves from other nukes, etc. That’s the logic behind most of America’s alleged “support” of nuclear weapons.  But Americans are terrified of shoe bombs and pocket knives on planes; enough to waste hours of their time waiting in line.  If Obama is so keen to stop nuclear proliferation, why doesn’t he use the fear that is already so prevalent in America?  After all, whats scarier than a terrorist with an A-bomb? Seems like a good argument against the A-bomb is that we don’t want terrorists getting it; after all, Jack Bauer isn’t around to save us any more.