I would also add the Cuban Missile Crisis to the list of things to fear, where (as I perceive it) the Soviets thought the Americans would fold, and then the Americans escalated. Being tough but not being perceived as tough is a serious failure mode!
Yes, and it's a common failure mode because people who are not tough often try to convince others that they are tough.
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.
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