Cold War planning often assumed that any major conflict would quickly go nuclear, which discouraged reserves and preparation for long conventional wars. Mutual nuclear danger can instead produce stalemate because neither side uses its ultimate weapon when doing so ensures loss for both. Rivalry then continues below the nuclear threshold. Limited conflict and escalation control become essential because pushing an opponent to a point where it believes nothing remains to lose can break the restraint.
Notable Point · 3:31:08-3:32:39
Nuclear stalemate makes limited-war control more important
If both superpowers know nuclear use means mutual loss, rivalry continues below that threshold and conventional escalation must be managed carefully.