What's a little nuclear war done to anyone?
There is not going to be a nuclear war. If it didn't happen even during the very worst moments of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, it certainly isn't going to happen now.
That's not an argument that it won't happen now. Generally I think that sentiment is correct, if something was really likely before and didn't happen and it's a lot less likely now then it probably won't happen. But when we're talking about potentially everyone dying we can't just dismiss the possibility because it's unlikely.
Here is the thing -I can trust states to be rational and act upon the principle of self-preservation. As long as nuclear weapons remain in the hands of governments (and not private actors) like the United States, Russia, China, or even Iran and North Korea, I do not worry about the possibility of nuclear war. I just don't. You can always negotiate with them if things start getting out of hand.
On the other hand, the mere thought of al Qaeda or the Islamic State (or another terrorist group) getting their hands on a 'dirty' nuclear bomb is positively
terrifying, and one that would definitely keep me up at night because I know
nothing will deter them from using it on their enemies once they get their hands on it. You cannot reason with them.
That is something GOT and others should really be worried about. Not the idea of two nuclear states having a nuclear war with one another.
