Korean brinkmanship is a return to nuclear MADness

The disintegration of the Soviet Union some 12 years ago spawned unusual optimism over the prospects for world peace. Politicians spoke of the US receiving a 'peace dividend', meaning lower taxes in the future because the need for a huge military force, much less an arms race, had become moot with the demise of the Soviet enemy. If we have learned anything since then it is that there is always an enemy. The enemy now is rogue states like Iraq and North Korea, as well as international terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda. In the 20th century, battles were fought between real states, if no...