"The problem here is that there will always be some uncertainty about how quickly Saddam can acquire nuclear weapons. But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud"

This quote by Condoleezza Rice is referring to the uncertainty surrounding Saddam Hussein's potential to acquire nuclear weapons. Rice is advising that if the worldwide area does not do something about it to prevent Saddam from getting nuclear weapons, the repercussions can be catastrophic. She is recommending that the world needs to not wait until it is too late, which the "cigarette smoking gun" must not be a mushroom cloud, which is a symbol of a nuclear surge. Rice is highlighting the relevance of doing something about it before it is far too late, which the worldwide community must not wait up until there is a nuclear surge before acting. This quote is a pointer of the significance of doing something about it to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and the disastrous effects that can result from inaction.