I think you’ve pointed out a flaw in my argument. The statement “MAD made nuclear war impossible” is demonstrably false—nuclear war could still happen with MAD. The statement “MAD prevented nuclear war” could still be true—nuclear war may have taken place (and probably would have been more likely) in the absence of MAD, and therefore MAD did prevent a nuclear war.
I meant it didn’t eliminate all circumstances.
I think you’ve pointed out a flaw in my argument. The statement “MAD made nuclear war impossible” is demonstrably false—nuclear war could still happen with MAD. The statement “MAD prevented nuclear war” could still be true—nuclear war may have taken place (and probably would have been more likely) in the absence of MAD, and therefore MAD did prevent a nuclear war.