Nuclear terrorism threat demands urgent response, experts warn
The threat of nuclear terrorism is increasing and requires attention. The report and analysis were prepared by the Department of Defense and the National Nuclear Security Administration. The conclusions are alarming. The USA must be ready for new threats.
9:32 AM EDT, June 21, 2024
The report's authors, cited by "The Miami Herald," emphasize that the American government is making efforts, but they are insufficient to meet the evolving threat. Extended, continuous, and adaptive measures are necessary to manage the risk of nuclear terrorism effectively.
Stephen Flynn, professor of political science and the founder of the Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern University, stated: "The issue of nuclear terrorism remains very much a real one, there are enormous stakes involved and the risks are high, but the issue has been falling off the radar screen of the American public over the last 15 years, and the skill set of people involved in managing it is aging out."
Since the September 11 attacks and the war in Iraq, the landscape of nuclear terrorism has undergone many changes. Flynn noted: "We had a war on terror after 9/11, but that didn’t succeed in eliminating the terrorsim threat."
Currently, Israel's actions in Palestinian territories, as well as the actions of Hamas and the Iranian group Hezbollah, which are considered terrorist groups by the U.S. Department of State, are leading to a world where both state and non-state actors seeking nuclear weapons are engaged in wars.
The report's authors also point out the development of the civilian nuclear sector, which could pose an additional threat. Americans view nuclear power plants emerging in countries within China's or Russia's spheres of influence with suspicion, believing they approach safety issues less rigorously.
As they emphasize, most materials that can be used to produce a "dirty bomb" have always been difficult to control, and now more are available.
New threats to the USA and ways to combat them
The report concludes optimistically, emphasizing that the USA can meet many of the challenges discussed if it continues its efforts and adapts to new threats.
The report's authors emphasize that Americans have invested a lot of effort in managing this risk for years, and that is why no nuclear incident has occurred.
"Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater — we’ve got a lot of capability, let’s stay on top of it. But Congress has to continue its support for it, and we have to continue to do our due diligence,” Flynn concluded.
