Some cities, of course, are obvious. Washington, D.C. represents the political heart of the nation. Seattle, near Naval Base Kitsap and a major global port, carries both military and economic weight.
Other major urban centers appear on vulnerability lists not because of missile silos or command centers, but because of their population density and economic influence. San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City are all places where destruction would send shockwaves through global markets, infrastructure, and morale.
