So the cranes are the B52s and the arc-welders are the nukes
Yeah, that's a good analogy 
Given this info, it is quite possible that the B52 that were put aloft (asset protection) could have been protecting (carrying) nuclear assets (bombs) from being destroyed/damaged/>stolen<
Same set of reasoning that sees the arc-welder hanging from the crane at the nearby construction site.
So the cranes are the B52s and the arc-welders are the nukes
Yeah, that's a good analogy