There is a vast difference between being capable of a first strike but having only a retaliatory policy... and not having the capability of a first strike and having only a retaliatory policy.
The capability of launching a successful first strike is the true deterrent to a war, nuclear or not.
Retaliatory threats are only a deterrent to the other guy using a certain class of weapons in his war on us.
It’s the first strike capability, which Cheney warned Saddam we were willing to use should Saddam use certain nonnuclear weapons, which stayed Saddam from ordering the use of chemical weapons against the US in the 1st Gulf War.
You are so correct -