What does MAD stand for in nuclear strategy, describing deterrence where a nuclear attack would lead to total destruction on both sides?

• A. Mutual Armament Doctrine
• B. Mutually Assured Deployment
• C. Mutually Assured Destruction
• D. Military Alliance Doctrine

Answer: (C)

The idea here is deterrence through the risk of complete retaliation. Mutually Assured Destruction means that if one side launches a nuclear attack, the other side has the capability to respond with enough force to destroy the attacker as well. This hinges on having a credible second-strike capability—survivable weapons and assured retaliation—so that initiating a nuclear attack would guarantee devastating consequences for both sides. Because the outcome would be total destruction on both sides, neither side has an incentive to start a nuclear war, which is the essence of this deterrence strategy.

Other phrases don’t fit the concept. They imply different ideas (armament focus, deployment, or alliance frameworks) rather than the strategic logic that prevents nuclear use through guaranteed mutual destruction.