At present, the likelihood of a nuclear attack against the United States is very low because:

At present, the likelihood of a nuclear attack against the United States is very low because:

• A. Terrorist nations do not have the ability to deliver a nuclear weapon via missile or bomb
• B. Nuclear weapons are illegal
• C. They do not exist
• D. Delivery is prevented by weather

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that the likelihood of a nuclear attack depends on the attacker’s ability to deliver the weapon, not just on whether weapons exist. Delivering a nuclear device requires a reliable delivery system (such as a missile or a bomber), secure command and control, logistics, safety safeguards, and survivable launch and guidance capabilities. Those requirements are extremely challenging for non-state actors or “terrorist nations” to achieve. Without a credible delivery method, the presence of weapons alone does not translate into an imminent threat, which is why the statement that delivery capability is lacking is the best explanation. The other options miss the point: nuclear weapons do exist and are not universally illegal, and weather does not reliably prevent delivery in a way that would make such an attack a frequent or credible risk.

The key idea here is that the likelihood of a nuclear attack depends on the attacker’s ability to deliver the weapon, not just on whether weapons exist. Delivering a nuclear device requires a reliable delivery system (such as a missile or a bomber), secure command and control, logistics, safety safeguards, and survivable launch and guidance capabilities. Those requirements are extremely challenging for non-state actors or “terrorist nations” to achieve. Without a credible delivery method, the presence of weapons alone does not translate into an imminent threat, which is why the statement that delivery capability is lacking is the best explanation.

The other options miss the point: nuclear weapons do exist and are not universally illegal, and weather does not reliably prevent delivery in a way that would make such an attack a frequent or credible risk.