I’m speaking of warfare in its most basic form, in which one group of people defeats another. We can’t even keep the enemy out of our own country; their way of life is winning without a shot being fired, and when shots are fired we blink first.
Nobody is afraid of mutually assured destruction from Afghanistan or Iraq; the fact is they have more armed men willing to fight & die for their cause. That is what wins wars.
Thay type of warfare is ancient history for superpowers...I was referring to unconventional warfare, in which it could be won in less than 24 hrs. This could be by complete destruction or destroying the populous and leaving all resources and structure in place.
Also, I was referring to mutually assured economic destruction in which countries (by virtue of a league or UN) have tied there economies together to prevent a full scale attack or annihilation of an enemy. (vested economic interest for everyone to deter World War type conflicts)
And, more armed men doesn’t mean a win....Appox. 45,000 people died in an instant in Hiroshima....not to mention the 35,000 in the following months (the land was poisoned as well)....and this was tech of the 40’s,
Bottom line is that every war is winnable if you are willing to do what it takes to win.