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Nuclear Terrorism

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World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. AP photo.World Trade Center site

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RECENT ANALYSIS

  • Dec 17, 2008 Strengthening U.S. Security Through Non-Proliferation and Arms Control: Recommendations for the Obama Administration
    In 2008, the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation sought input from 60 scientists, academics, members of Congress, senior congressional staffers, and representatives from advocacy groups, think tanks, and foundations to assess the priorities for the next Administration on nuclear arms control and non-proliferation. This report summarizes the consultations.
  • Dec 2, 2008 Experts Respond to Commission on WMD Proliferation and Terrorism Report
    The Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Proliferation and Terrorism released its final report on December 2. Leading experts from the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation issued reactions to the Commission’s findings.
  • Nov 14, 2008 Understanding and Preventing Nuclear Terrorism
    If the United States and countries around the world are serious about preventing a nuclear attack by a terrorist group, efforts to contain the threat at its source need serious attention. In this new policy brief, Travis Sharp and Erica Poff analyze the threat of nuclear terrorism and offer five policy recommendations that should be pursued immediately.
  • See more articles »

Leonor Tomero

CENTER EXPERT

Leonor Tomero

Director for Nuclear Non-Proliferation
202-546-0795 ext.119
ltomero AT armscontrolcenter DOT org

Learn about the Project on Strengthening Arms Control and Nonproliferation Click here »

Nuclear terrorism is one of the most serious threats to the security of the United States. The attacks of September 11, 2001 tragically demonstrated the reality of terrorism to the American people, but nearly six years later, serious efforts are still urgently needed to prevent a nuclear attack from occurring in the U.S.

Most experts agree that any nation would take an enormous risk in knowingly providing a nuclear weapon or nuclear materials to a terrorist organization because of the unpredictable consequences of cooperating with a renegade group. If a state-supplied nuclear weapon were ever used against a nuclear-armed state by terrorists, the resultant retaliation against the supplying state would be swift and massive.

If a state didn't knowingly provide a nuclear weapon, how then could terrorists get one?

One way would be to surreptitiously buy or steal an assembled nuclear weapon without the supplying nuclear state's official knowledge. For example, a terrorist group could obtain unaccounted "loose nukes" in Russia without the Duma or the Russian administration having any knowledge of the transaction.

A second way would be for terrorists to obtain enough weapons-grade material to assemble a weapon themselves. A possible source is Russia and the former Soviet Union, where sites with relatively minimal security provide abundant opportunities for terrorists. Assembling the device, however, would pose serious technical challenges to a terrorist group, although securing the services of a renegade nuclear scientist and setting up a makeshift laboratory are not impossibilities.

Efforts to reduce the threat of nuclear terrorism include programs such as Cooperative Threat Reduction, commonly known as Nunn-Lugar, aimed at securing and dismantling vulnerable nuclear materials in the former Soviet Union; Global Threat Reduction Initiative, directed at securing and eliminating global high-risk nuclear and radiological materials and equipment; and Materials Protection Control and Accounting Program, geared towards improving security and accounting for highly enriched uranium (HEU) in Russia and the former Soviet Union. While these programs have demonstrated substantial progress in reducing the threat, current estimates conclude that there are still approximately 1,700 tons of HEU and around 500 tons of separated plutonium stockpiled globally (SIPRI Yearbook 2007).

A comprehensive approach is needed to reduce the threat of nuclear terrorism. Top priorities should include:

FY2009 DEFENSE BUDGET ANALYSIS

Sep 25, 2008 Analysis of FY2009 Defense Appropriations in the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act (CR) for FY2009

Sep 24, 2008 Analysis of House-Senate Agreement on the FY2009 Defense Authorization Bill (S.3001)

Feb 4, 2008 The FY 2009 Pentagon (DOD) Defense Budget Spending Request

ARTICLES & FACT SHEETS

Nov 14, 2008 Understanding and Preventing Nuclear Terrorism

May 12, 2008 Nuclear Terrorism is a Likely Event

Mar 5, 2008 History, Design, and Prospects for Improving Pakistan's Nuclear Personnel Reliability Program (PRP)

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