Reply #1: An excellent article

[Briar]

However, I suspect the damage has already been done - acceptance of US first use of nuclear weapons is already engrained in the national psyche. I remember only too well that many first responses to the attacks on September 11th constituted the general idea that Afghanistan should be turned into a parking lot using nukes. That sort of gut reaction is as commonplace as the crass gibe that promises arrested criminals the additional penalty of rape when they reach prison (I've even heard children make reference to that one). The administration may be wasting a lot of effort on this: plenty of citizens are ready to wreak nuclear payback on any country daring to diss the US.