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Radiological Terrorism: Introduction

Radiological Terrorism: Introduction. Nuclear WMD. Modern time weapons First used in WWII. Nuclear weapons testing, Bikini Atoll, 7/24/46 U.S. Department of Energy photograph. Nuclear WMD. Modern time weapons First used in WWII.

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Radiological Terrorism: Introduction

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  1. Radiological Terrorism:Introduction

  2. Nuclear WMD • Modern time weapons • First used in WWII

  3. Nuclear weapons testing, Bikini Atoll, 7/24/46 U.S. Department of Energy photograph.

  4. Nuclear WMD • Modern time weapons • First used in WWII

  5. Replicas of atomic bombs dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. National Atomic Museum photograph

  6. Military-Style Backpack, similar to one carrying the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park Bomb, could deliver a “dirty bomb” Federal Bureau of Investigation photograph

  7. Pros / Cons • Advantages: • Highly disruptive

  8. Pros / Cons • Advantages: • Highly disruptive • High fear / terror factor

  9. Pros / Cons • Advantages: • Highly disruptive • High fear / terror factor • Significant media profile

  10. Pros / Cons • Advantages: • Highly disruptive • High fear / terror factor • Significant media profile • Nuclear bombs also have:

  11. Pros / Cons • Advantages: • Highly disruptive • High fear / terror factor • Significant media profile • Nuclear bombs also have: • Vast destructive power (destroys infrastructure)

  12. Pros / Cons • Advantages: • Highly disruptive • High fear / terror factor • Significant media profile • Nuclear bombs also have: • Vast destructive power (destroys infrastructure) • Effect (death and destruction) is immediate

  13. Nuclear weapons testing, Operation Greenhouse, May 8, 1951 at Enewetak. U.S. Department of Energy photograph.

  14. Pros / Cons • Disadvantages: • Expensive to obtain/maintain

  15. Pros / Cons • Disadvantages: • Expensive to obtain/maintain • Relatively short “shelf life” (~7 years)

  16. Pros / Cons • Disadvantages: • Expensive to obtain/maintain • Relatively short “shelf life” (~7 years) • Low level of control and containment

  17. Pros / Cons • Disadvantages: • Expensive to obtain/maintain • Relatively short “shelf life” (~7 years) • Low level of control and containment • Destroys infrastructure

  18. Pros / Cons • Disadvantages: • Expensive to obtain/maintain • Relatively short “shelf life” (~7 years) • Low level of control and containment • Destroys infrastructure • High risk of detection

  19. A U.S. Customs Inspector checks seaport containers coming into the United States. U.S. Department of Homeland Security photo by James Tourtellotte

  20. Pros / Cons • Disadvantages: • Relatively short “shelf life” (~7 years) • Low level of control and containment • Destroys infrastructure • High risk of detection • Radiation “signature” helps pinpoint source

  21. Destructivity • WMD far exceeds that of conventional, chemical, or biologic weapons

  22. Destructivity • WMD far exceeds that of conventional, chemical, or biologic weapons • “Dirty bombs” lack real destructive power

  23. Destructivity • WMD far exceeds that of conventional, chemical, or biologic weapons • “Dirty bombs” lack real destructive power • Goal of the terrorist • Harassment vs. death

  24. Lethality • Nuclear blast potential

  25. Lethality • Nuclear blast potential • Kill tens of thousands of people

  26. Lethality • Nuclear blast potential • Kill tens of thousands of people • Small target area

  27. Lethality • Nuclear blast potential • Kill tens of thousands of people • Small target area • “Dirty bomb” potential

  28. Lethality • Nuclear blast potential • Kill tens of thousands of people • Small target area • “Dirty bomb” potential • Few deaths

  29. Lethality WeaponGrams Fuel-air explosives 320 million Mustard gas 3.2 million Sarin nerve gas 800,000 A "crude" nuclear weapon 5,000 Type A botulinal toxin 80 Anthrax spores 8

  30. CIA Reports on Former Soviet Union Source: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency

  31. Availability • Nuclear proliferation is a problem

  32. Availability • Nuclear proliferation is a problem • Rogue nations may provide terrorist groups with both weapons and technical knowledge

  33. Availability • Nuclear proliferation is a problem • Rogue nations may provide terrorist groups with both weapons and technical knowledge • Fall of the Soviet Union left many unaccounted nuclear devices

  34. Availability • Nuclear proliferation is a problem • Rogue nations may provide terrorist groups with both weapons and technical knowledge • Fall of the Soviet Union left many unaccounted nuclear devices • For sale on the “black market”

  35. Availability • Terrorist groups performing own research and development of nuclear weapons

  36. Availability • Terrorist groups performing own research and development of nuclear weapons • Industry use of radiological materials provides the isotopes for “dirty bombs”

  37. Availability • Terrorist groups performing own research and development of nuclear weapons • Industry use of radiological materials provides the isotopes for “dirty bombs” • Power plant sabotage could produce massive “dirty bombs”

  38. Delivery • “Suitcase” bomb easily transported by person

  39. Delivery • “Suitcase” bomb easily transported by person • 10 kiloton bomb readily moved by truck or boat

  40. Delivery • “Suitcase” bomb easily transported by person • 10 kiloton bomb readily moved by truck or boat • Radiation detection equipment might miss a small device

  41. Underwater radiation detector U.S. Environmental Protection Agency photo

  42. The Terrorist Risk • Five levels of risk:

  43. The Terrorist Risk • Five levels of risk: • Threatened use, with no real capability to use them

  44. The Terrorist Risk • Five levels of risk: • Threatened use, with no real capability to use them • Unsuccessful attempts to acquire NW

  45. The Terrorist Risk • Five levels of risk: • Threatened use, with no real capability to use them • Unsuccessful attempts to acquire NW • Actual possession of NW

  46. The Terrorist Risk • Five levels of risk: • Threatened use, with no real capability to use them • Unsuccessful attempts to acquire NW • Actual possession of NW • Unsuccessful attempts to use NW

  47. The Terrorist Risk • Five levels of risk: • Threatened use, with no real capability to use them • Unsuccessful attempts to acquire NW • Actual possession of NW • Unsuccessful attempts to use NW • Successful use of NW

  48. The Terrorist Risk • Why haven’t we seen the use of NW by terrorists?

  49. The Terrorist Risk • Why haven’t we seen the use of NW by terrorists? • Fear of severe backlash

  50. The Terrorist Risk • Why haven’t we seen the use of NW by terrorists? • Fear of severe backlash • More likely reasons:

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