The Four Faces Of Nuclear Terrorism

The Four Faces of Nuclear Terrorism,a new book from the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, assesses the motivations and capabilities of terrorist organizations to acquire and use nuclear weapons, to fabricate and detonate crude nuclear explosives, to strike nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities, and to build and employ radiological weapons or "dirty bombs." The authors maintain that there is a greater likelihood today than at any time in the past three decades that nuclear weapons will actually be used. The authors recommend immediate steps to prevent the most catastrophic forms of nuclear terrorism and to reduce the consequences of the most likely nuclear terror attacks including: securing and reducing tactical nuclear weapons in Russia; securing, consolidating, and eliminating highly enriched uranium globally; and providing for secure storage and disposal of radioactive materials used in medicine, scientific research, and industry. The authors also stress the need to educate thepublic on the real risks of radiation exposure and radioactive contamination to help psychologically immunize citizens against fear of radiological attacks, which they conclude are all but inevitable in the coming years.

Chalres D. Ferguson is Science and Technology Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations William C. Potter is Institute Professor and Director of the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies