"the word 'win' is used to suggest a comparison of the postwar position of one of the adversaries with the postwar position of the adversary . . . it is quite possible that in a general nuclear war one side or the other could 'win' decisively."

--ording to Nitze, the West had to maintain a posture of unquestioned superiority to forestall a Soviet first strike. "The greater that [superiority], the greater are our chances of seeing to it that nuclear war, if it comes, is fought rationally."