The author warns that the ability of the U.S. to maintain its nuclear stockpile is slowly degrading due to a ban on nuclear tests, the aging of the nuclear weapons themselves, and the retiring of the core of weapons experts.

James Kitfield interviews prominent authorities on both sides of the debate over next-generation nuclear weapons.

Brian Michael Jenkins, a longtime terrorism expert with the RAND Corporation, says in this interview that the threat of nuclear terrorism lies more in the realms of Hollywood dramas and terrorist dreams than in reality. He argues that political leaders should not exaggerate the dangers of nuclear terrorism as the fear this creates plays into the terrorist strategy.