[manarth]

An unempowered individual (a John Doe) threatening to destroy a civilization might be an unhinged individual, a terrorist, or a nusiance.

A President of a significant world power threatening to destroy a civilization is politics in its ultimate form: the power to f** over anyone it wants to.

Any subsequent backtracking/negotiation/etc is also part of politicking.

It's the uncomfortable underbelly of some societal structures.