Weapons of Mass Destruction

Nuclear Terrorism

Nuclear weapons pose the largest threat because of their immense power of destruction. The technical difficulty and high cost of mounting a nuclear weapons program is a substantial deterrent to a terrorist group unable to obtain, from an existing stockpile, the uranium or plutonium needed to manufacture a nuclear weapon or unable to obtain an intact weapon from a nuclear weapons state such as Russia or the United States. Stockpiles of plutonium and uranium, not to mention nuclear weapons themselves, are heavily protected by the nations in possession, but the very size [Page 405]of these stockpiles and their worldwide distribution are sources of concern.

A deteriorating Russian economy in the 1990s posed a special threat. Had Russian facilities not been adequately protected, and scientists and security personnel not adequately paid, it would only have been a matter of time before a subversive group succeeded in obtaining uranium or plutonium. The international community led by the United States provided substantial assistance to Russia to strengthen its nuclear materials protective systems. The heightened sensitivity of the world's nuclear establishments following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., have led to further improvements in materials and weapon security.

A second form of nuclear terrorism involves the use of radioactive materials combined with an explosive package to make radiological weapons or “dirty bombs.” This capability is surely within the grasp of a well-organized group, but the effects of such a weapon would be far less extensive than those of a nuclear explosion. While the extent of damage caused by a dirty bomb depends on the amount of radioactive substances dispersed and the time it takes the material to decay into relatively harmless state, such a weapon would probably result in evacuation and cleanup rather than mass casualties.

An attack on a nuclear power reactor is another version of a radiological weapon. Crashing a heavy aircraft or vehicle into a reactor or its spent-fuel storage area would release harmful radioactive material. Nations possessing nuclear reactors are now attempting to enhance their security to reduce the probability of successful attacks on these complex systems.

Chemical Terrorism

Chemical weapons are sometimes touted as the “poor man's atomic bomb.” They have not been used often since World War II because military units are usually well protected with masks and special clothing. They would be effective against unprotected civilians if employed by organized military units with the ability to disperse them widely. That capability involves the development of chemical agents as well as the necessary dispersal vehicles, such as aircraft bombs, artillery shells, missiles containing small containers of the chemicals called “bomblets,” or spray tanks fitted on aircraft. Such delivery capabilities are likely to be difficult for a terrorist group to obtain. Nerve gases, the most powerful chemical agents, are not easy to manufacture. To produce them in significant quantity requires access to well-trained chemists and sophisticated equipment.

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