country A and country B are enemies
a general in the military of country B
doesn't want to sacrifice his soldiers
unless it's necessary for the survival of country B
so if the general of country B
hears rumors that country A has an extremely dangerous weapon
then the general of country B
will want to see that extremely dangerous weapon in action
so that the general of country B
will have reason to avoid a real war with country A
and then country A and country B
can continue to have fake wars with each other
so the generals of every country that are enemies with country A
will want to see that extremely dangerous weapon in action
so that they will have reasons to avoid real wars with country A
the extremely dangerous weapon of country A
and the ability and willingness of country A
to use that extremely dangerous weapon
becomes the new constant
around which all politics is based