Point is you cannot know if they are an upstart (whatever upstart means). It can be misinterpretation, it can be camoflage, it can be anything. But once you rain death you're better be prepared to be grateful for what you are about to receive back.

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0x3f 5 hours ago | parent [-]

Depends on the context. We certainly knew nobody else had nukes.

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lstodd 5 hours ago | parent [-]

That.. was the case for all of four years. And forgive me if I doubt certainity.

	▲	0x3f 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Four years is plenty of time to start launching. Also, MAD incentivizes disclosure. What would be the point of having secret nukes? Openly having them is the only way to stop the US using its nukes to stop your nuke program, in this scenario.