Pleased to see guys here understand ICBM vs IRBM. It does matter. ICBMs have a treaty restricted number on both sides.
Something I note often here on FR — and again — OIL IS EVERYTHING.
If you get past US propaganda you learn that Eisenhower refused to let German POWs return to Germany AFTER THE SURRENDER WAS IN PLACE. It was weeks he did not release them. And in Japan, they were . . . not “forced” to surrender by atomic weapons. There was a much different reason.
Food. Germany had no food. Shipping POWs home would have worsened the situation. Japan had no oil and therefore no transportation for food. They were forced to surrender because the populace starved.
And so, if you want to attack the US, the optimal target is the Houston area. That is 70% of US refinery capacity. There are a few scattered around elsewhere, and they could get targeted casually.
Result? Food can’t move to shelves because OIL IS EVERYTHING and diesel trucks feed you.
The cities will starve. It only takes a few weeks to starve. Alternative food delivery . . . from whom? Who is going to donate diesel and gasoline to move food from Iowa to NYC?
Right. Nobody.
Zombie apocalypses essentially. Only ones that might survive would be rural areas as long as they could defend it. But even then, if transportation stops one better have some good old fashioned means of defense.