> ...but I suppose there's also the possibility that in a nuclear confrontation with the U.S. they wouldn't want their own cities to get nuked either so maybe t

> ...but I suppose there's also the possibility that in a nuclear confrontation with the U.S. they wouldn't want their own cities to get nuked either so maybe there's a sort of "let's not be the first to do counter-value" dynamic at play. I'm not sure if that's valid reasoning because 1) nuclear targeting decisions are some of the most closely-guarded secrets and 2) if you could be subject to a counter-force attack there's probably little opportunity to "wait and see" what your enemy attacks before you launch yourself. Though I might be clouded by thinking in terms of the classic missles-in-silos nuclear war. I suppose some subs might survive (but I'm sure a component of any nuclear war would be to try to sink those first), and they've got stuff like constantly flying mobile command posts. So maybe the subs have instructions to hold back a few missiles pending further orders from the last general sitting on that plane.