Countermeasures and Neutralization of Weapons

Countermeasures and Neutralization of Weapons of Mass Destruction

A common challenge impacting most government officials is, understanding how to neutralize WMD related threats. This is because tools and tactics are continually changing to counter what is being used by terrorist organizations. In this research project, we are looking at those strategies that are effective in mitigating the risks from these weapons. This is achieved through studying real world ideas and applications. Then, we are analyzing how to implement the latest solutions in order to enhance detection and enforcement. The combination of these factors allows us to introduce tools that will improve countermeasures and the neutralization of WMD materials. This is the point when these ideas can be used to boost safety.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Literature Review

Methodology

Findings

Summary

Introduction

Over the last several years, the issue of neutralizing the threat from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) has been increasingly brought to the forefront. This is because the total number of countries which are seeking to acquire this technology has increased dramatically. Evidence of this can be seen in a study that was conducted by the UN. They found that 80% of military spending is on conventional weapons. While 20% is focused primarily on the WMD related programs.

In a number of cases, rouge states such as Iran, North Korea and Syria have developed their own stockpiles. This has enabled some countries (i.e. North Korea) to successfully develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. While others (i.e. Iran and Syria), have stockpiles of chemical and biological agents. At the same time, they are working on actively developing nuclear weapons.

This is problematic, as any kind of successful development by these rouge states could result in them passing WMDs on to terrorist related organization.

To make matters worse, there are concerns that some of these governments (i.e. Syria) are not politically stable. This increases the odds that a certain amounts of these weapons will fall into to the hands of terrorists or militant organizations. If this were to happen, there is very realistic possibility that they could use WMDs on select population centers.

To prevent this from occurring, many governments have been imposing tight controls of these materials. In number of cases, this involves preemptively destroying targets that could possess these weapons or having covert operations to thwart any attempts to pass them onto to other groups. However, as the hostilities and uncertainties continue to increase, the overall scope of threat is rising exponentially. This means that there is a probability that some of these materials will be passed on successfully to rouge organizations. When this occurs, the odds increase of a major incident involving the use of WMDs.

To address these challenges there will be a focus on countermeasures and strategies for neutralization of these threats. This presents a puzzle requiring further research based upon the fact that the overall nature of the threat is evolving and the potential disruptions that this can cause to entire regions. To avoid any kind of negative fallout from the use of these materials requires implementing tactics that will monitor and directly deal with these issues. This means taking a proactive approach in watching and responding to any threats effectively.

These objectives will be achieved by looking at potential strategies that can be utilized in the process. To determine which techniques / tools are most effective requires conducting a literature review, discussing the methodology and analyzing the findings. Together, these elements will offer specific insights that will highlight the best strategies for preventing and neutralizing possible threats from WMDs.

Literature Review

The literature review is uncovering specific ideas and tools that can be utilized in helping to mitigate the threat from WMDs. This is accomplished by studying different scholarly sources and techniques. These insights will identify possible solutions and potential gaps that will be addressed by the research.

Monitoring and Cooperation

Monitoring and cooperation are important aspects of understanding and preventing a WMD attack. This is because most stockpiles are known and controlled by a few organizations. However, this is changing with technology making it easier for rouge states and terrorist groups to develop these weapons. To address these challenges, DaSilva (1999) believes that there needs to be greater coordination on the international level. This is when a larger task force could be established to evaluate and identify potential risks.

Moreover, he thinks that there needs to be an emphasis in following the provisions of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. This can be accomplished by having different players working together through establishing confidence building measures, improving communication and helping everyone to realize their importance in the process. According to DaSilva, this will make it easier to control and determine who has access to WMD related materials. This is the key in preventing rouge groups and states from developing this technology.

These ideas provide a good foundation. However, increased coordination has been utilized since the September 11th terrorist attacks. This means that many of his recommendation are currently in place. As a result, the ideas make sense and they provide some general background for improving coordination. Yet, they fall short in offering other insights which can help to specifically mitigate any kind of WMD related threats.

Vaccinations

A common proposal for dealing with the negative fallout from any kind of WMD attack is to vaccinate the public against certain diseases. For instance, small pox has not been widely spread since a vaccine was developed in the mid-20th century. After this time, the disease has virtually disappeared with most people not receiving proper protection from it. If the different governments and health organizations; were to develop a massive vaccination campaign against these agents. It will help to reduce the adverse effects on the general public from an attack using these kinds of weapons.

Moreover, there needs to be a focus on improving the stockpiles for vaccines, drugs and other agents that can protect everyone. This means working with local officials by teaching them how to identify possible signs of a WMD attack, the proper techniques for treating / monitoring those who are impacted and how to address variety of challenges. This will ensure that local communities are prepared for the numerous threats they will face and the best way to respond. According to Sato (2011), these tactics will more effective in protecting everyone by allowing them to take steps in enhancing their own safety.

These ideas do provide some assistance about: improving public vaccine stockpiles, educating stakeholders and planning for possible contingencies. It also helps to identify areas to train and prepare local communities for potential threats from a WMD attack. However, there are gaps in the research with only select ideas discussed. In order to protect communities more steps must be taken to ensure that everyone is capable of understanding and effectively responding to these kinds of threats.

Identifying Targets that are Vulnerable

Identifying those targets that are most vulnerable has been utilized for planning and ensuring that there are enough resources to prevent a terrorist attack. In the past, this has been used to predict the target and method of attack. This has worked for the most part since September 11th. However, the changing nature of threats means that everyone must examine other approaches to determine the long-term impacts.

According to Barry (2012) a new emphasis must be utilized during this process with him saying, "The National Academies and others have suggested that a better approach may be to elicit information on adversary's preferences, perceptions, and capabilities and use this information to calculate probabilities of interest to DHS. Some terrorist groups are thinking about using weapons of mass destruction (WMD), each with its own values, perceptions of reality, and capabilities." This means that everyone must be concentrating on understanding specific targets that could be vulnerable from their reduced security presence. Moreover, there needs to be an emphasis on why specific groups are targeting certain areas and possible methods of conducting the attack. If this can occur, it will help communities to create a list of threats that are most vulnerable.

The information from this source is showing how there needs to be an emphasis on those targets that are susceptible inside communities. This is when they can establish infrastructure to support and protect it against a terrorist attack. When this takes place, the various stakeholders are more effectively prepared by understanding and responding to different threats. However, there are no specific tools or tactics mentioned about how to prepare for these kinds of situations. This is a major drawback of the literature, as it is offering everyone with more general ideas and no specific tools or techniques they could utilize.

Training and Technology

To combat a possible attack involving WMDs require using an all-encompassing strategy that is combining various ideas with the latest technology. This helps to improve monitoring and understanding the overall scope of the threat facing the various stakeholders. For instance, Vane (2009) determined that the U.S. Army has this kind of a plan in place with them focusing on a number of areas including:

Taking a layered approach to WMDs. This when the Army must spread out its resources to engage threat WMDs and WMD networks. The concept applies to counterforce operations, sensors, protection, and training.

Leveraging new technologies. Many of the required capabilities presented in the strategy will be possible only through applications of new technology. The Army must leverage these new technologies.

Enhance training. Unit training is currently more flexible and quickly adaptive in comparison with institutional training. but, it often lacks valuable consistency and standardization.

Institutional training content updates, approval, and resourcing it is tied to processes too slow to remain current. Future training will prepare soldiers and leaders to exercise sound judgment in the analysis of data / information, understanding cultural impacts on operations and to act in periods of uncertainty.

These ideas are providing a background for implementing new technology and key strategies for improving the countermeasures and neutralization of WMDs. However, this research is not talking about what specific solutions should be utilized or how any kind of effective strategy needs to be coordinated. This exposes many of the ideas to general factors which are not taking into account specific variables that could impact the strategy. As a result, there needs to be greater amounts of flexibility provided during this process.

Methodology

The design of the study will be focused on using is the quantitative approach. This is when actuaries will look at wide variety of current and older sources. During this process, there is a focus on identifying key solutions that have been utilized, possible tools and ideas for adjusting with various changes.

The theoretical framework is to concentrate on specific solutions that are effective in helping to mitigate the possibility of WMD attack occurring. This means looking at various ideas and applying common sense principles. The data collection method will be to carefully examine a wide variety of scholarly, governmental, military, news related and statistical resources to see the trends that are developing.

As a result, the research will be conducted by looking at numerous sources and then contrasting the findings with each other. This will be accomplished through a process known as comparative analysis. The way it works is different facts are collected and examined with each other. The trends will show how various solutions have been introduced to address these problems in the past and current challenges impacting stakeholders.

The data will be tested based upon real world events that are taking place and objectively analyzing the different solutions. That is utilized by various states and other organizations in countering WMD related threats. This will offer insights about those protocols that are most effective. It is at this point when these ideas could be implemented as part of a larger strategy to improve countermeasures and neutralization.

For example, the Israelis have some of the most innovative counter terrorism programs in the world. Their strategy often involves using tools such as: local surveillance to monitor what is happening. Then, combining it with actionable intelligence to target and directly prevent the threat from becoming worse. This approach involves taking proactive measures and preemptively striking targets. Throughout the years, these tools have successfully protected the nation against possible WMD attacks on their major population centers.

Evidence of this can be seen in 2007, when they destroyed a nuclear research facility that was being used by Syria. This was a part of an aggressive effort to expand all WMD related programs in order to counter Israeli actions inside these areas. These ideas are showing how there are certain countries which have effective programs for countering WMD threats.

Our objectives are study these and many other programs. Then, look at the latest solutions and strategies that are being utilized. This will provide us with detailed information about how to counter potential threats in the future.

During this process, special considerations will be provided to those techniques that are most effective and learning from the mistakes of others. A possible limitation is that many of these latest strategies may not be fully uncovered. This is because a variety of governments are keeping their anti-terrorism tools and tactics under close scrutiny. As they do not want to let rouge states and organizations learn about how they are monitoring their activities. This will make it more challenging in understanding the most up-to-date strategies for mitigating these kinds of threats.

Analysis and Findings

The information that was uncovered is illustrating how governments and other organizations must use an all-encompassing approach in neutralizing WMD related threats. The data was collected through highlighting how technology must be used in coordination with preemptive planning. This means that the various agencies must work together and share information about a possible attack.

At the same time, everyone needs to improve cooperation on the international level to have more effective controls in place. This means reexamining the possible structure for reporting and determining who has access these materials. For instance, improved coordination and the availability of more common tools in detecting key compounds will help to enhance monitoring. This could be used with nanotechnology to improve detection and more effectively control anyone carrying these substances. These solutions are relatively new and have not been tried to improve neutralization strategies.

Evidence of this can be seen with observations from Kosal (2011) who said, "Nanotechnology is expected to affect the world in important ways, much as the chemical, semiconductor, and biotechnology industries have done over the past 75 years. There is tremendous interest and commensurate investment in the potential for scientific discovery at the nanoscale to deliver revolutionary breakthroughs. As researchers continue to explore and understand the unique physical phenomena of engineered nanomaterial's, technologies employing novel Nano science will begin to impact all technologies, including chemical and biological (CB) defense applications."

This is showing how incorporating more experimental solutions can improve the ability of governments to detect and monitor for WMDs. Nanotechnology is just one of many tools that can be used during the process of achieving these objectives. In empirical terms, this is indicating that new approaches and techniques must be utilized to help improve detection and the ability to mitigate WMD related threats.

Moreover, Hayes (2011) determined that directed energy technology could be used to improve monitoring and enforcement of WMD materials. This is because it is using much lower power sources that can see through various packages and containers differently (i.e. lasers and inferred / radiological solutions).

This makes it harder to transport these materials across international borders and bring them into urban population centers. These ideas are illustrating that the data is indicating how more of an emphasis needs to be placed on utilizing the latest technology to detect for WMDs. This is showing how in empirical terms that more solutions need to be introduced which are taking this kind of focus.

As a result, these facts are used to prove the hypothesis by showing how counter measures and neutralization can be enhanced. In the future, this more effectively prepares stakeholders for addressing the overall scope of the threat they are facing from WMDs. When this happens, they are capable of protecting themselves and limiting any damage.