We are racing toward a world where lots of states possess weapons of mass destruction, regardless of the size and relative strength of their conventional fighting forces. Nuclear and biological weapons break the rules—they cheat—by providing states with few resources a means to bring down wealthier rivals. If history is any lesson here, then weapons of mass destruction are likely to erode the cost-effectiveness of expensive conventional forces. Just as longbows and muskets foretold the end of medieval armor, and exploding artillery the end for sailing warships and castles, so, too, may we be nearing the point where low-cost nuclear and biological weapons spell the end for expensive conventional military forces.

Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evoluti…, loc. 605