Conviction has to look real

The third ingredient of deterrence is conviction at a national level, rather than confidence expressed in a ministerial speech. Fighting for a country or principle can appear admirable from one perspective and pointless from another, even within the same person. A society therefore has to decide what it is prepared to risk for sovereignty, political choice, and another country's right to conduct its affairs peacefully. Deterrence becomes easier when an opponent believes both that the country can fight and that it will fight over the stated line. Military capability without a credible political commitment may fail to prevent a challenge.