"No threat" and "not posing a serious threat" are 2 different things.
How is this different? You know what escalation means? Or perhaps the name of America's version of the German General Staff is?
I look at it this way:
You have a 44 magnum are facing 3 different Enemies one at the time.
- "Serious threat" enemy has a 357 magnum
- "Not a serious threat" enemy has a small stick
- "No threat" enemy has no weapon, no legs and no arms.
If you think about what he said, it is very different.