Originally Posted by irateplatypus

let's not forget in this discussion that a long costly war does not necessarily entail nuclear strikes. you can certainly have one without the other. to base your argument on the assumption that there must be nuclear strikes it to base your response on premises that the discussion wasn't meant to assume.

i hesitate to get into the raw technicalities of war-making capabilities, as i think the discussion would get lost in a sea of trivia. but, take it where you will...