I think your issue is legit for land based nukes, but the Russian subs presumably have tighter protocols and better personnel.
The subs would be the main issue for the US East Coast (and presumably West Coast) targets.
Good point...
A tit for tat strike will hurt both sides. Stupid to do so, but the everyday Americans and Russian LEADERS will be hurt the most.
They, not the population centers, are the targets.
And when underground bunkers and giant command centers are built for the bosses, they make them grand. All the radio traffic, comms, vehicles back and forth, command aircraft landing at off the way places, dirt piles and construction equipment you can see from satellite give those type of places away. You can even “tell” when they’re occupied, as all the extra security is put in place, and ELINT gives much of that away...
After the Castro attempted hits, we made assassination illegal... Put putting a nuke at a tunnel entrance isn’t assassination. And of course, we did kill the Iranian Salamiman...