NCJ Number
191562
Date Published
1999
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This paper examines what has prevented terrorists in the past from using weapons of mass destruction and how that situation may be changing.
Abstract
Factors determining why terrorists are reluctant to use weapons of mass destruction (WMD) include: fear of reprisals and alienating potential supporters. In the case of biological weapons, terrorists cannot see immediate results and claim responsibility for the attack; those attacks do not exhibit the power and destruction found in explosives or guns. But biological weapons are becoming increasingly available and state sponsors, such as Iraq or North Korea, or rogue suppliers have more means by which to disseminate them. Biological agents are small, easily transportable, have no signature, and are fairly inexpensive. They can contaminate food, can be dispersed in an enclosed area or open area by aerosols, and be transmitted indirectly through infected animals or through direct contact. The potential use of biological weapons may be increasing because there is a higher degree of organization within terrorists groups that have better equipment, an increase in inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflicts, and they serve as potential equalizers for smaller states at war with major powers. Terrorists generally have the following motivations: political goals to make the government capitulate; desire to undermine government authority; justification for religious beliefs; desire to attract publicity and attention; platform to express a grievance; method to release colleagues; or means to obtain money. Terrorists may come in all races, ages, socioeconomic status, education levels and genders. Eighty percent are male, 75 percent are single, 66 percent come from middle or upper class backgrounds, and 66 percent have a university degree. Terrorist candidates who feel like outsiders may gain a sense of belonging when they join a terrorist organization. Left-wing terrorists see themselves as oppressed by the government or society. Right-wing terrorists see themselves as having a superior morality and are saving the world from evil. Ideological terrorists may be the most dangerous because they are willing to sacrifice themselves for their cause. A terrorist leader is usually extremely self-confident and may be paranoid and unethical. Targets are often selected on the basis of a group's skills, such as knowledge of explosives. Megaterrorism is a new trend and features the desire for massive destruction. Postmodern terrorists seek to wipe out an entire societal framework or culture. The trend toward more horrifying incidents using new methods, such as bioterrorism, gives law enforcement agencies another threat to worry about. Bibliography