I think this cannot be trully measured without top-secret data from other nations as well, not likely to be shared with the US. E.g. what if the US war with Chi

I think this cannot be trully measured without top-secret data from other nations as well, not likely to be shared with the US. E.g. what if the US war with China was averted just by timely preparation? No-one knows for sure except some Chinese in power positions. Something in relation to USSR? some of people taking the decisions at the time are already dead taking some facts with them, thus impossible to evaluate