HOW WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION ARE LINKED TO TERRORISM?

How weapons of mass destruction are linked to terrorism?



How weapons of mass destruction are linked to terrorism?

When the United States and other nations began working together on the problem of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction over thirty years ago? the world was a very different place? where the largest source of the most dangerous materials was contained within two superpowers. Weapons of mass destruction [WMD] were considered weapons of last resort. Non-state actors were not yet considered to pose a meaningful threat? since they were not linked to abundant sources of supply. With the end of the Cold War? however? the international security environment changed and the proliferation problem increased.

Now? more states are seeking increasingly advanced WMD capabilities; more states are entering the supply market; and all of this is compounded by the fact that terrorists are also seeking weapons of mass destruction. When the world witnessed the destructive potential of terrorism on September 11? [2001?] we were reminded of the need to remain steadfast in recognizing emerging threats to our security? and to think one step ahead of those who wish to do us harm.

Today? the United States believes that the greatest threat to international peace and stability comes from rogue states and transnational terrorist groups that are unrestrained in their choice of weapon and undeterred by conventional means. The September 11th attacks showed that terrorist groups were much better organized? much more sophisticated? and much more capable of acting globally than we had assumed possible. Our concept of what terrorists are able to do to harm innocent civilians has changed fundamentally. There can be no doubt that? if given the opportunity? terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda would not hesitate to use disease as a weapon against the unprotected; to spread chemical agents to inflict pain and death on the innocent; or to send suicide-bound adherents armed with radiological explosives on missions of murder.

A number of factors are seen as having constrained terrorist linked to WMD. Most terrorists groups possess political goals and have traditional? ethnic? nationalist? or ideological associations. These groups seek to gain politically from attacks and to draw the attention of large audiences without diminishing their basis of support. As expert Brian Jenkins noted years ago? “Terrorists want lots of people watching? not lots of people dead.” Even if a terrorist group seeks to ...