What is the administrative position of "Branding the State"? Quite simply, the Propaganda Minister, in charge of selling the Agenda of the Government to the masses.

Think Voltaire: (paraphrasing) "Anyone who can convince you of an absurdity, can convince you to commit an atrocity."

Cheers,
HJ

Points well taken, Dr. Prather. Signatory to the NPT notwithstanding, because the US Gummint is "suspicious" a sovereign state might eventually build a nuke, we need to "dismantle" it's nuclear program, or "take down" traffickers in "weapons technology".

"Preemptive deterrence" I believe, is the Beltway euphemism. We're not just armed to the teeth should we be attacked, and this will hopefully deter an attack (defensive deterrence). No, we've decided that you (Libya, Pakistan, or X) cannot be trusted; we're not going to wait on the off-chance you might attack to obliterate you. We're going to preemptively (or preventatively?) neuter you--so to speak--so that you'll never be able to do "evil" (i.e. something only we can do) in the future. Never mind that we violate your sovereignty...or international (or even our own) law. This is necessary because we say so. Also known as American Exceptionalism, or American Imperialism.

Yep, the Terr-usts hate us for our freedom...the freedom to bully the weak states around the world, and there's nothing they can do about it. Exceptional role model, wouldn't you say?

With respect to Keeping America Safe from nuclear weapons: you wrote "...a box-cutter is not a "weapon of mass destruction." In fact, the only true WMD is a nuclear weapon." How true, indeed. And...irony or ironies...it was (strategic, mini) nukes that brought down the World Trade Towers. (You, if anyone, as a scientist should be fully cognizant of this FACT. Do the "math", "physics", 'forensics" or whatever scientific analysis you choose. The empirical evidence is pervasive and everywhere...supported by the international scientific community. Commercial airliners carrying Terr-usts with box cutters DID NOT.)

I wonder what Dick 'em Cheney would have to say about that. Oh wait, he was safe in his bunker with his blankie and couldn't bear to watch.