> I notice that the concept of 'retaliation' is taken as a given There is no room for 'retaliation' in reality. All the superpowers' defense systems are set up

> I notice that the concept of 'retaliation' is taken as a given There is no room for 'retaliation' in reality. All the superpowers' defense systems are set up to launch in around ~10 minutes if they detect a nuclear launch from the other side. So, all these 'they used nuclear weapons first so we have to retaliate' delirium in the press is totally nonsense. There is no such 'first - second' in a war between nuclear superpowers. They launch simultaneously within ~15 minutes and destroy each other and entire world within ~40 minutes. (includes flight time of the slowest ballistic missile)