Precisely. It's OK to PO France, those dirty leftist FROGS (with nukes). And it's OK to PO Russia, those filthy commies (with nukes). And it's OK to PO Germany, those back stabbing, money grabbing youths of Hitler (that house our nukes).
But don't PO the arabs in DUBAI!!!!!! WE'RE DOOMED!!!!!!
Even the French and Russians want to live, and don't have the relgious martyr impluses. Deterance works with people like that. It's not clear that it works with Mad Mullahs, Insane Imams, Angry Ayatollahs, Wired Wahabbists, or the folks who follow them and riot and firebomb because of an insulting cartoon.
Not that that means I agree we should worry about POing them. Just that we evaluate and prepare for the consequences of doing so. (I do believe there's plenty of preparation in Ohio, Knob Noster, and out in Montana, to handle the problem, should it arise.
LOL! :-)