MHE505 MODULE 4 - CASE ASSIGNMENT

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MHE505 Module 4 - Case Assignment:

Risk Assessment

[Student Name]

TUI University

[Quarter and Year]

Question 1:

CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT

What skills and resources are necessary to execute a successful attack using portable nuclear weapons? Are there any terrorist groups that possess these skills and resources? Explain.

The skills and resources that are required to execute a successful nuclear attack includes a well-trained force, nuclear weapon, means of transportation, information about the enemy and most importantly, leaders who can execute the strategies effectively. Along with these, money is also necessary (Lambers, 2002). Al-Qaida is one of the terrorist groups which possess these skills and resources. Al Qaeda is the perpetrator of perhaps the most infamous terrorist attack of all times: the September 11, 2001, destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City and the extensive damage at the Pentagon, the headquarters building of the U.S. Department of Defense. The September 11 attacks were remarkable for the number of casualties they caused, the high profile of the targets, and the sophistication of the terrorists' methods. They hijacked four airliners roughly simultaneously and crashed them into the two World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon. The fourth hijacked plane did not reach its target, apparently because the passengers realized what was happening and fought with the hijackers. This plane crashed in a rural area of Pennsylvania, killing all aboard. Overall, more than 3,000 people were killed in these incidents, excluding the hijackers themselves who, of course, also perished. By way of comparison, 2,400 people were killed in the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor that propelled the United States into World War II (Jenkins, 2008).

Question 2:

MOTIVE

Are there any indicators that suggest possible intention to conduct an attack using portable nuclear weapons by any terrorist groups? Explain.

Terrorist groups have long been suspected of attempting to ...