[DigDugDoug]

But what's the problem with this doctrine from the perspective of a nation-state actor? I'm being purposely obtuse with the question but I think to some extent the doctrine does make sense. It's too late to convince the world that having nuclear weapons isn't diplomatically advantageous, that cat has been out of the box for awhile. Any risks associated with having nuclear weapons tend to occur prior to their successful development which creates the risk/reward dynamic.

In realist terms, other nations aren't really an American problem until they detract from American interests both material and diplomatic. I'm focusing on the US because that's where your criticism was centered but I'm of the opinion that this philosophy could be applied to any given nation albeit with altered strategic considerations.

[jwtadvice]

It's interesting. I did not mean this comment as criticism (as you suggest).

I'm merely accounting that the point of the article ("in the 1950s, the US policies on use of nuclear forces was startling - to our sensibilities - in how it exercised them for power in pragmatic, utilitarian ways") equally applies today.