First operational requirement for deterrence: the first
state to acquire weapons must not attack its rival in a preventive war now, in order to avoid the risk of a
worse war after the second state has
acquired a large nuclear arsenal.
Evidence proves that even in the United States government there was strong support for preventive
war
In the Truman Administration the Joint Chiefs of Staff
(JCS) were in support of first strike
doctrines
In the Eisenhower Administration key military officers
supported preventive options
Other examples:
Russian military leaders considered a preventive war on
China