What does no nuclear weapons really mean?

sociopoliticaldribble:

In the continuous reaction to Iran’s nuclear program individuals throughout the United States on both sides of the aisle have expressed fear over the creation of nuclear weapons in the state of Iran. Yet how much of this fear is based on US perceptions of the Middle East and Iran? Most likely all of it.

One thing that is rarely talked about in geopolitics these days are the substantial nuclear capabilities of Brazil. Now in theory Brazil has no nuclear weapons. However they have a substantial nuclear infrastructure that would be capable of producing 6-10 fission bombs per year with almost the turn of a screwdriver. In addition the Brazilians have been designing a variety of nuclear submarines to protect their resource deposits, ensure shipping routes, and create a strong deterrent in the name of national security. Nonetheless no one is ever concerned with the growing nuclear threat in Brazil.

Clearly the situation is a little different being that I believe the majority of the hysteria regarding Iran is caused by the misunderstanding of nuclear capabilities as well as growing pressure from Israel; but think of the situation in sort of a blind thought experiment. If I told the American public there was a country in the Western Hemisphere that was traditionally dominated and colonized by Western powers, believed in Social Democracy, had a lower class leader in power, was a rising state in the global economic system mainly through its oil and gas resources and they were at the cusp of producing nuclear weapons at the drop of a hat what do you think the reaction would be? Probably outcry and a demand to check the power of that state. Yet that does not exist with Brazil.

Now in no way am I saying that Brazil is a threat to the United States but I think this displays the importance perceptions and certain connotations play and often overcome facts in public opinion and policy making.