It DOES prevent is a nuclear strike against OUR nation as well as prevent INVASION. Which is exactly what the ChiComs would do if we did not have a nuclear deterrant. The ChiComs will not invade Taiwan because one they are trained and equipped by us and two, even today there is the distinct possibility that both Taiwan and Japan have the bomb or could have them overnight. The Arab League has never attacked Israel since they got their nuclear arsenal. The palestinians do.
The palestinians only attack because of soft leadership in Israel but one day they will pay for their attacks.
"It DOES prevent is a nuclear strike against OUR nation as well as prevent INVASION. Which is exactly what the ChiComs would do if we did not have a nuclear deterrant."
OK. So you're first talking about deterrence. Minimal deterrence seems to do the job very nicely--no one's lobbed any nukes at China, and they have a pretty small arsenal for a supposed major power. So, on that count, there's still no argument to be made for a larger nuclear arsenal.
As for preventing an invasion--that's what the Navy's supposed to do by commanding the ocean, isn't it? And how are the ChiComs supposed to invade America, anyway?
"The Arab League has never attacked Israel since they got their nuclear arsenal."
Actually, they did in 1973--and damn near succeeded, too.