The claim that no weapon remains ultimate is briefly tested against nuclear arms. Another nuclear arsenal or a strike on the launch system can counter them, while their destructive effects may also make use self-defeating. Nuclear weapons may prevent an opponent from winning, but they do not necessarily provide a usable path to one's own victory because both sides can lose together. The aside connects the super-battleship argument to deterrence theory: unmatched destructive power can alter choices without delivering positive strategic control.
Notable Point · 1:32:17-1:33:14
Why nuclear weapons deter without guaranteeing victory
Nuclear arms can deny an opponent victory, yet their self-destructive consequences make them an imperfect example of an ultimate weapon.