Well I agree and disagree with a lot of that.
I agree that the idea of MAD is to just not use nukes, because everybody loses. That has been working for a long time, and it is the reason you and I are even alive today.
Unfortunately, we find ourselves in a position in which one side is pushing it as hard as they can. That is the U.S. antagonizing russia, and basically pushing for war. Why they are doing this, one can only speculate. The outcome is as obvious as it is bleak. The motivations, however, you should at least have a basic grasp on, just because you are here.
It is no secret that the American government, and in fact most of the western governments, are hell bent on globalization. Russia is not only a roadblock to this goal, but they are actively aligning themselves against it by allying with any government that resists globalization, hence the proxy war in Syria.
Now I agree that an economic collapse or an American civil war is more likely (and more benificial to mankind) but the point of the thread is hypothesizing what would happen in the event of WWIII. I.E. what will most likely hapen if Clinton wins and continues the globalist antagonization of Russia.
I disagree with the idea that a nuclear exchange would happen over the course of months. I tend to think it would all happen in a flash. Our leaders are a bunch of hotheads and will not wait around to see what the enemy will do, they will act quickly (from their bunkers) to try and gain the upper hand over the "enemy."
I am of the opinion that once the first nuke is sent, we are all royally fucked, unless a miracle happens.
I have also been convinced, however, to place my faith in Chaos and operate under the assumption that somehing wholly unforseen could happen and change everything, because I have wittnessed some mighty fine dubs in my time.