NCJ Number
200532
Date Published
May 2001
Length
6 pages
Annotation
In an attempt to assess the real potential of a nuclear terrorist threat, this paper analyzes the technical feasibility of nuclear and radiological terrorism, as well as the actors involved and their motives.
Abstract
The United States has spent billions of dollars in the fight against terrorism with about 1 billion used to counter terrorism of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) which includes chemical, biological, and nuclear terrorism. Of these WMD, radiological and nuclear terrorism have been identified as a major terrorist threat for modern societies. The question posed is whether this unprecedented effort in the fight against terrorism, specifically nuclear terrorism, is related to an imminent and real threat. Potential answers to this question are presented in this paper through an analysis of the driving factors for nuclear terrorism, the protagonists, the nature and impact of nuclear terrorism, real options available in the event of an attack, risks of nuclear terrorism, and whether nuclear terrorism is the ultimate form of terrorism. Nuclear terrorism could indeed be the ultimate form of terrorism, but it is not likely to happen. Since the probably, even though low, does exist, there must be a serious effort by the international community to address a prospective attack.