eapons has been the human factor, whether or not the pilot or bombardier were actually willing to detonate a nuclear weapon with full knowledge of the weapons devastating effects. In a nuclear conflict, targets are broadly divided into two categories: counterforce and countervalue. Counterforce targets are the weapons of the opponent, while countervalue targets are objects that are socially and strategically important to the opponent; for example, its cities, industrial plants, and population(Cold War). Before advanced missile technology it was impossible to launch an assault solely on counterforce targets, which meant that a nuclear exchange would mean irreparable damage to the societies of the included parties. This added to the horrifying effect of nuclear weapons, and drove the powers to develop larger and more powerful weapons that had destructive capabilities in the tens of megatons(Cold War). However, with the missile technology of today, a single one megaton weapon can be guided within millimeters of its target, making an attack solely on an opponent's counterforce targets possible, thereby limiting civilian casualties on both sides; on the victims side by the fact that civilians are less of a target, and in the attacking country because it has destroyed much of its opponents ability to strike back. It is with this missile technology that comes the threat of the use of weapons of mass destruction, whether they be nuclear, chemical or biological. These relatively cheap delivery systems allow opposing forces to launch attacks from any location on the planet, and be hidden, or a safe distance away from the repercussions of their actions. It is weapon delivery systems such as these that make it easier for countries to destroy each other, with the push of a button, an armada of missiles can be launched to attack any targets quickly, and so this technology brings the threat of the use of weapons of mass destruction by any force in the...
