In nuclear strategy, the targeting of an enemy's economic, industrial, and civilian infrastructure rather than military forces, intended to destroy their ability to wage war.
From 'counter-' (opposite response) and 'value,' emerging in Cold War military doctrine during the 1960s. It represents a shift from targeting soldiers to targeting a nation's economic worth.
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, military strategists debated countervalue targeting—essentially threatening to destroy entire cities—which made nuclear war seem so catastrophic it might prevent war entirely.
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