Problem
During the Cold War, the deterrent value of nuclear war and the "mutually assured destruction" syndrome limited or contained wars that might have otherwise expanded in scope or seriousness. It must also be considered that those wars tended to heighten tensions between the superpowers and disproportionately impacted those living on the soil being vied for by Soviet and American forces.
What was a particular Cold War conflict, and how was the superpowers' involvement affected by these concepts? To what degree was the fear of nuclear war a significant factor in the conflict, and how did the avoidance of nuclear war impact those in the conflict's path?