[fastpat]

The notion that an attack by North Korea, Iran, or Iraq prior to 2003 could reduce American civilization to ashes is, to be blunt anc succinct, silly.

At the height of the Soviet Union's nuclear power and the cold war in the late 70's; the worse case scenario of an all out nuclear war would have reduced the American population by 40%; i.e. from 250,000,000 to 150,000,000, in other words to the population of America in 1950. That would have required the delivery of thousands of large thermonuclear weapons nearly simultaneiously, and would have caused tremendous disruptions in nearly every aspect of everyone's lives. However, American civilization would have survived, beyond question.

None of the countries you mention have the slightest capability in that regard, and won't have it within at least 100 years.

So, in the vernacular, get a grip.