Don't underestimate the power of giving your opponents plausible excuses to avoid conflict. People often don't want conflict and will be satisfied with token ju

Don't underestimate the power of giving your opponents plausible excuses to avoid conflict. People often don't want conflict and will be satisfied with token justifications such as "I was attacked and it's legal if it's in my territory". It's a matter of narrative, really. Then, let's say, a NATO country has the option of the choice between "well they do have a point actually" and "I'll take the risk of you wiping my centuries old capital with your nuclear ICBMs".