“Power may be at the end of a gun, but sometimes it's also at the end of the shadow or the image of a gun.”

2nd plank of the communist manifesto is complied with under such shadow and image - the real thing is very close.

The apparent threat of force can deter as well as an actual threat of force. To 'trick' predators is built-in to many species, man is no different. A basic tactic in war.