Terrorism, Dirty Bombs, and Weapons of Mass Destruction


Book Description

Discusses the construction of dirty bombs, radiation-dispersal devices, and the threat that the terrorists wanting to use them pose to the world.




Dirty Bombs


Book Description

Congress has long sought, through legislation and oversight, to protect the United States against terrorist threats, especially from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons. Radiological dispersal devices (RDDs) are one type of CBRN weapon. Explosive-driven "dirty bombs" are an often-discussed type of RDD, though radioactive material can also be dispersed in other ways. This report provides background for understanding the RDD threat and responses, and presents issues for Congress. Appendices: Technical Background; Some U.S. Vulnerabilities to RDDS. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find publication.




Defence Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism


Book Description

Examines the class of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) for terrorist use. The authors have found that their (terrorist) effects range from serious nuisance value up to catastrophic destruction of a large urban area.




The Four Faces of Nuclear Terrorism


Book Description

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 and detonate crude nuclear explosives, to strike nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities, and to build and employ radiological weapons or "dirty bombs."




Transcendental Terrorism and Dirty Bombs


Book Description

This paper analyzes the potential for terrorists to employ radiological weapons against the United States and makes recommendations for countering the gaps in security that terrorists will exploit while embarking on such an endeavor. The paper's primary hypothesis is that radiological dispersion devices, contrary to popular contemporary analysis, possess extreme lethal potential. When combined with the prevalent trend for terrorists to maximize the death and destruction associated with their attacks, radiological dispersion devices, unlike other weapons of mass destruction, offer a unique opportunity as radioactive material is readily available and requires unsophisticated technology and knowledge to weaponize. A fictional scenario backed by calculations is used to demonstrate the lethal potential of a series of covert attacks employing radiological weapons. The paper analyzes the motivations for why terrorists are willing to use weapons of mass destruction and why radiological weapons are a more likely candidate for employment over nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Additionally, the relative ease with which radiological weapons of this nature can be fabricated and the ready availability of appropriate radioactive sources is explained. Finally, the paper concludes that securing the life cycle of radioactive sources through legislation, regulation, and international agreements is the best method for preventing terrorists access to those radioactive sources which are most dangerous and capable of weaponization. However, the paper also concludes that any legislative, regulatory, or agreement based solution will not protect the public in the near term and a nationwide system of radiation detectors is proposed as a possible solution for interdicting radiological weapons before they reach their targeted destination.




Jihadists and Weapons of Mass Destruction


Book Description

Explores the Nexus Formed When Malevolent Actors Access Malignant MeansWritten for professionals, academics, and policymakers working at the forefront of counterterrorism efforts, Jihadists and Weapons of Mass Destruction is an authoritative and comprehensive work addressing the threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in the hands of jihadists,




Dirty Bombs and Basement Nukes


Book Description




Terrorist Organizations and Weapons of Mass Destruction


Book Description

Weapons of Mass Destruction are diverse and pose unique challenges to governments attempting to keep them out of the wrong hands and preparing to respond to an attack. This text analyzes Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) weapons and terrorist groups with a known interest in them. It presents accessible information about the technical challenges posed by each type of weapon, assesses the threats, and reviews the US governmental responses. It provides structured CBRN case studies and allows for easy comparison of threats, challenges, and responses. The text combines weapons and policy information in one comprehensive and comparative resource for researchers and students interested in key issues in modern terrorism and international security.




Unconventional Weapons and International Terrorism


Book Description

This book addresses the critical importance of understanding innovation and decision-making between terrorist groups and unconventional weapons, and the difficulty in pinpointing what factors may drive violence escalation. It is useful for students of terrorism studies and nuclear proliferation.




Dirty Bomb


Book Description

While newspapers carry stories about dirty bombs from time to time few readers know enough about these bombs to be scared. And scared they should be. The threat of a nuclear strike is more real than ever, and the government, while trying to do its best, is playing from way behind. Some experts even wonder if we should be spending less money on trying to prevent it, and more on trying to deal with one after it happens.This is an eye-opening investigation into the world of nuclear arms, radioactive machinery, and Al Qaeda terrorists. This book is filled with shocking revelations regarding huge security gaps, radioactive materials, missing nuclear arsenals, as well as the simplicity of technology needed to detonate what many experts have called "Weapons of Mass Disruption."Shocking stories include: In 1995 a 17 year-old Boy Scout built a working nuclear core in a shed in his parent's backyard In 1996 Chechen separatists planted a working Dirty Bomb in a Moscow park International intelligence recently uncovered the fact that the terrorists have a bomb-making school or network, which is easily transmitted via the internet 38 missing Alazan warheads were modified to carry radioactive material by the Russian government, effectively creating the world's first surface-to-surface 'dirty bombs' In 1987 an exposed core of Ceasium 137 was left in a trash can in Brazil for three days -- hundreds were treated for ailments related to radiation sickness There are rumored to be 20 missing Russian nuclear suitcase bombs Recent studies show that the affects of a medium sized Dirty Bomb would wreak far worse financial and long-term physical damage than originally assessed Includes: What Can You Do to Protect You and Your Family Protect Yourself During a Radiation Emergency - What to Do In Case of an Explosive Attack - Information on Potassium Iodide - What You Can Do to Prepare for a Terrorist Event