If Dr. Manhattan had just destroyed all nukes on earth, like the Star Child in 2001 or Superman in Superman IV, there wouldn't be a need for any of it.
This is discussed in the comic, and Dr. Manhattan admits he probably couldn't destroy all the nukes in time before some of them hit their targets, so that option is off the table.
― Tuomas, Monday, 31 August 2020 06:34 (three years ago) link
I don’t recall that, but not surprised it was addressed (why does he have to wait for their launch to be imminent, though? he can’t just teleport around the globe and vaporize them on the DL?)
― “Pizza House!” (morrisp), Monday, 31 August 2020 06:46 (three years ago) link
(Tho I guess the nuclear powers could always just built more nukes... which is a variation on the continuous-squid problem being discussed. How do you truly end a cold war, etc.)
― “Pizza House!” (morrisp), Monday, 31 August 2020 06:50 (three years ago) link