Final answer:
In a counter-value nuclear strategy, the focus is on targeting civilian populations and cities to deter the enemy from initiating a nuclear attack. Both the United States and the Soviet Union developed intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads anywhere in the world.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a counter-value nuclear strategy, such as was used during the Cold War, the focus was on targeting the enemy's population and cities rather than their military assets. The goal was to inflict maximum civilian casualties and destruction to deter the enemy from initiating a nuclear attack. This strategy was based on the principle of mutually assured destruction, where both sides understood that any nuclear attack would result in devastating retaliation, leading to the destruction of both nations.
By targeting cities and civilian populations, the counter-value strategy aimed to make the cost of a nuclear conflict too high for any rational leader to contemplate. This approach involved building up large stockpiles of nuclear weapons and ensuring their ability to reach enemy cities.
For example, both the United States and the Soviet Union developed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of delivering nuclear warheads anywhere in the world, including the enemy's homeland.