The contradiction is largely the result of our strategic situation. Assuming terrorists get their hands on a supply of nuclear weapons, defense of the innocent by any means except deterrence or genocide is impossible. Additionally, the question of whether deterrence is possible remains very much open.
Even when New York is a smoldering radioactive crater, we won't be able to interdict the bomb earmarked for DC. When DC is gone, we won't be able to stop the one en route to Los Angeles. When LA is no more, we'll still be without a method for stopping the bomb headed to Chicago.
Our options in such an eventuality are quite limited.
1. Do nothing...allow millions of innocents to die
2. Do something utterly ineffectual at solving the problem, such as a limited military engagement against selected foreign states...see "do nothing".
3. Commit what would, in a normal situation, be justly considered an atrocity.
Commenting by HaloScan
