Large Terrorist WMD Attack Might Be Conducted.

¶ … large terrorist WMD attack might be conducted. I have also indicated the most probable type of materials that could be used and the potential targets and probable forms of attack.

It is rather difficult for the policymakers to weigh up the likelihood of a mass-casualty terrorist attack in their nation states. On the other hand, the consequences of such a prospect call for the governments worldwide to give serious attention to this fear. During 1990s, a number of developments took place that amplified public concern that the activist could get hold of nuclear, biological or radiological weapons and detonate them in a big metropolitan region.

According to the researchers, the terrorists probably may not have the access to nuclear weapons. However, there are chances that they may bring radiological weapons into play in the upcoming times. Fortunately, there has been no occurrence of even a single nuclear or radiological terrorist attack up till now. Nevertheless, great concerns have roused after "the attack with the chemical warfare agent Sarin in Tokyo (1995), the anthrax cases in the U.S.A. (2001) and the smuggling of radioactive material"[footnoteRef:2] (Wirz & Egger 2005). On top, the attacks in the United States of America on September 11 gave a clear idea to the world that there are, at the moment, many groups with huge monetary and extensive human resources. The 9/11 attacks also signified that terrorist groups have a grave determination to cause the highest possible damage to the human race (Wirz & Egger 2005). [2: Wirz, C. & Egger, E. "Use of Nuclear and Radiological Weapons by Terrorists?."International Review of the Red Cross 87, no. 859 (2005). http://www.labor-spiez.ch/de/the/as/pdf/irrc_859_Egger_Wirz.pdf (accessed January 24, 2013).]

It can be concluded that a radiological diffusion bomb would be the most easily accessible nuclear appliance for any terrorist[footnoteRef:3] (Blair 2001). Radiological weapons are not at all expensive and involve low technological handling. This is the main reason why they can be categorized as the best options for terrorists who seek to cause great damage more than the obtainable potential and restrictions of common explosives but who lack the means to make, assemble or access an accurate weapon of mass destruction[footnoteRef:4] (Brown 2006). Radioactive supplies are not difficult to access and even do not have a need of problematical or pricey vehicles for their delivery. In addition, waste material derived from radioactive sources is quite effortless to achieve. Radioactive waste is generally found all over the world, and usually not as well-guarded as actual nuclear weapons are taken care of (Blair 2001). Radiological weapons are a hit among the terrorists for the reason that even a badly planned and poorly executed radiological attack could have an overwhelming impact on the economy and emotional well-being of the attacked region (Brown 2006). [3: Blair, B.G. "What if the Terrorists Go Nuclear?." CDI Terrorism Project, (October 1, 2001). http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/nuclear-pr.cfm (accessed January 24, 2013).] [4: Brown, C.. "Transcendental Terrorism And Dirty Bombs: Radiological Weapons Threat Revisited." The Air University. http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cst/csat54.pdf (accessed January 24, 2013).]

Nuclear radiation that is barely visible only with distinctive instruments can become a mechanism of terrorists to cause mass-destruction. Radioactive isotopes can be made greater than before and spread all over the place with or without high explosives by using a radiological dispersion device (RDD) or ostensible dirty bomb [footnoteRef:5](Zimmerman & Loeb 2004). For that reason, the radiological weapons propose distinct opportunities for terrorists, who rummage around for an asymmetric advantage against their target. They are also preferred by terrorists as they are disconnected, fatal and involve only a little amount of familiarity to employ. Moreover, as radioactive matter is readily obtainable, it has a devastating potential for mental commotion. If truth be told, radiation is that form of energy which is the most pure and most crucial (Brown 2006). [5: Zimmerman, P.D. & Loeb, C. "Dirty Bombs: The Threat Revisited." Defense Horizons 38 (2004): 1. http://www.questia.com/read/1G1-147059807/dirty-bombs-the-threat-revisited (accessed January 24, 2013).]

Radiological weapons can turn out to be a preferred weapon among terrorists since "radioactive sources can possess incredible energy density that is in every respect as lethal as traditional kinetic weapons"[footnoteRef:6] (Brown 2006). In addition, radiation is hardly noticeable to each of the five senses. Not only this, it is also a threatening and menacing weapon that can easily inflict significant damage on the inhabitants of the attacked area long after the first use of the parent weapon and long before health and law regulating authorities identify that an attack has been done (Brown 2006). [6: Brown, C. "Transcendental Terrorism and Dirty Bombs: Radiological Weapons Threat Revisited." The Air University. http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cst/csat54.pdf (accessed January 24, 2013).]

The purpose behind using radiological weapons to attack an area would be to engorge radioactive material above it by means of any device that is expected to blow up (dirty bomb) or a number of other ways of dissemination. The possibility of terrorists attacking by means of a radiological weapon is also increased by the far-reaching employment of radioactive sources in manufacturing sectors right now under poorly formed national and international laws regulations that are fruitless in successfully controlling the making, transportation, deliverance, management, and elimination of radioactive resources (Brown 2006). Huge quantities of radioactive materials are amassed in "laboratories, food irradiation plants, oil drilling facilities, medical centers, and many other sites"[footnoteRef:7] (Kelly 2010). It plainly means that terrorists who ardently desire to have control over radioactive sources will have no difficulty in finding out or getting hold of them. [7: Kelly, H. "Dirty Bombs: Response to a Threat." Journal of the Federation of American Scientists 55, no. 2 (2002). ]

The utilization of radioactive materials in hundreds and thousands of different worldwide health, educational, agricultural, and manufacturing locations makes it extremely complex to protect or control them. As a result, the ordinariness and simple accessibility of these radioactive supplies in the civic sphere, in conjunction with meager control and monitoring systems, poses a substantial danger to health and safety from the expected terrorist misuse of radioactive materials. Unquestionably, the most possible means for terrorist to acquire intermediate radioactive material is unlocked (Zimmerman & Loeb 2004).

Unfortunately, there are major flaws in actions to administer and put the radiological sources in order i.e. The devices that provide accommodation to radiological materials[footnoteRef:8] (Grotto 2005). Facility possessors put together adequate safety systems available simply when they are concerned about caring for commercially significant radioactive substance. In contrast, once radioactive materials are not considered necessary and disposition costs raise, security measures turn out to be inattentive, and the likelihood of refusal or theft of the radioactive material increases[footnoteRef:9] (Kelly 2010). There is no domestic system that is reliable enough to track the location and condition of all radiological sources. This is mainly the state of affairs in the United States of America. Nevertheless, the situation in other countries that are not as developed as USA is even poorer. It is, therefore, the requirement of the time to work honestly towards identifying, intercepting and coordinating unlawful shipments of the radioactive material (Grotto 2005). [8: Grotto, A.J. "Defusing the Threat of Radiological Weapons: Integrating Prevention with Detection and Response." American Progress. http://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/kf/dirtybomb072705.pdf (accessed January 24, 2013).] [9: Kelly, H. "Dirty Bombs: Response to a Threat." Journal of the Federation of American Scientists 55, no. 2 (2002).]

For the reason that United States of America is not capable enough to act in response to an attack efficiently, it is a must to expand and implement an encrusted, risk-based policy to protect the country from the menace that can be caused by the radiological weapons. The authorities are required to work vehemently for protecting the complete life-cycle of the most modern and accessible radioactive sources by strengthening the licensing requirements. The development of an effective mechanism is needed so that all radioactive sources can be tracked down and catalogued. In addition, the unnecessary radioactive sources must be disposed in a secure and safe manner by taking significant incentives[footnoteRef:10] (Grotto 2005). [10: Grotto, A.J. "Defusing the Threat of Radiological Weapons: Integrating Prevention with Detection and Response." American Progress. http://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/kf/dirtybomb072705.pdf (accessed January 24, 2013)]

Moreover, more efficient measures are necessary to develop so that the unlawful deliverance of materials from the foreign countries can be detected and intercepted. This is only possible once there is an improvement in the radiation detection technology. The implementation of an emergency response is also required for facilitating the progress of economic operations. The development of a medical surge facility is also significant for the treatment of radiation wounds. All countries must take efficient measures to teach the general population about radiation, radiological weapons and the potential hazards that can be caused by them (Grotto 2005).

The security of facilities that accommodate dangerous quantities of radioactive materials also needs improvement even if it means higher expenditures for enhanced safety measures. The modern times also demand the expansion of the usage of radiation detection system so that the detection process of dangerous amounts of radiation can be facilitated. It is a good thing that such systems are usually not expensive and of ordinary type. The Office of Homeland Security is liable to take quick measures for identifying all such areas where the installation of sensors is feasible. It must also ensure the nonstop evaluation and adequate security of the information those sensors will deliver (Kelly 2010).

High priority must also be given to the transportation and there must be a routine check on scrap metal yards and land fill sites. This is necessary for avoiding unlawful removal of hazardous radioactive materials. Existing detection technologies must also be improved and plans be devised for the same. USA also have a need of developing an effective system that is strong enough for "quickly gauging the extent of the damage, identifying appropriate responders, developing a coherent response plan, and getting the necessary personnel and equipment to the site rapidly"[footnoteRef:11] (Kelly 2010). [11: Kelly, H. "Dirty Bombs: Response to a Threat." Journal of the Federation of American Scientists 55, no. 2 (2002).]

Biological Terrorism

There are a number of options and resources that are available to conduct a biological attack. A tech-savvy as the materials needed are easy to obtain and are usually low-priced. Such materials include anthrax, botulinal toxin, ricin, hydrogen cyanide, mustard gases, tabun or VX etc. (Purver 1995). The likelihood that one day the biological agents may be used by the terrorists is unavoidable. Despite the fact that bioterrorism has not occurred in the past, "there are several reasons to believe that biological weapons will eventually be seriously considered and probably used in some manner by terrorists"[footnoteRef:12] (Purver 1995) in the future. The unconventional biological weapons may be used by the terrorist groups that experience major setbacks by government authorities. Such groups may conduct biological attacks as a last alternative for regaining momentum or avoiding total disintegration of their movement. [12: Purver, R.. "Chemical and Biological Terrorism: The Threat According to the Open Literature." CSIS, June 1995, 1-4.]

At present, it is an uneasy task to detect and identify self-protective measures that could be used to avoid or lessen the effects of a biological terrorist attack. However, researchers have concluded a number of measures that can be employed to avoid such an attack including gathering intelligence before an attack, the prevention of the attainment of biological agents by terrorists, "passive" protective measures before an attack (such as development of new detection technologies), "active" measures to respond to an attack that is in progress and post-attack mitigating measures (such as the establishment of an emergency preparedness program).

Releasing Small Pox

Variola, "the causative agent of the smallpox"[footnoteRef:13] (Tucker & Zilinskas 2002) is a distinctively human disease as the virus is only capable of replicating inside a human body. It can be considered the perfect weapon for bioterrorism as it is airborne. Since the 9/11 attacks on USA and the following anthrax attacks, bioterrorism has resurfaced as a major global threat and it is the most to be feared of all diseases. The Soviet Union is likely to be the source of this disease as it was there in the late 1980s that smallpox was developed and stockpiled. The smallpox virus "was designed to be delivered from biowarheads, which would float to earth on parachutes, bursting apart as they neared the ground to throw out fans of carbon-dioxide-pressurized bomblets, each of which would let out a deadly mist of variola"[footnoteRef:14] (Marriott 2003). The other fact that makes smallpox virus fearsome is that if it kept in a refrigerator, the virus can survive for decades. This is the reason why bioterrorist attacks by releasing smallpox virus may probably be in the pipeline of terrorists' plans. [13: Tucker, J.B. & Zilinskas, R.A. "The 1971 Smallpox Epidemic in Aralsk, Kazakhstan and the Soviet Biological Warfare Program." Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project, July 2002.] [14: Marriott, E. "Fearsome Weapon of Choice; Terrorists Are Keen to Get Their Hands on Smallpox - and 200 Tons of the Deadly Virus Are Missing." The Evening Standard (London), January 13, 2003. http://www.questia.com/read/1G1-96400673/fearsome-weapon-of-choice-terrorists-are-keen-to (accessed January 25, 2013).]

Smallpox is extremely contagious and is spread when people sneeze, cough, shake hands after wiping their mouths, just same as what happens in colds and flu. Therefore, the main concern in case of an attack would be to segregate the sufferers so that the infection chances can be prevented. However, it is only possible to detach the victims of smallpox virus if the attack is identified rapidly (Laurance 2001).

The disease caused by smallpox virus results in a rash. Afterwards, the skin starts showing pustules' development that can be recognized very easily. However, just as flu, fever and aches are the symptoms of smallpox in the earlier stages. It is acknowledged widely that there are only 2 virus stockpiles that are present on the planet out of which one is in USSR and the other one is in the United States of America. It is feared that some of this stock has fallen into terrorist hands that could eventually use it for accomplishing their ill purposes[footnoteRef:15] (Laurance 2001). [15: Laurance, J. "War on Terrorism: Infectious Smallpox Holds Advantage as Killer Weapon." The Independent (London), October 23, 2001. http://www.questia.com/read/1P2-5197670/war-on-terrorism-infectious-smallpox-holds-advantage (accessed January 25, 2013).]

Smallpox is not vulnerable to antibiotics like all other viruses. The dangerous virus is only effectual against bacteria. It is believed that smallpox carries a forty percent mortality rate. However, this level can vary according to natural immunity. Thus, the respiratory tract is the easiest route through which the smallpox virus can enter into the body. Therefore, it can prove to be a useful weapon for terrorists as it can be inhaled as an aerosol (Laurance 2001).

Potential Targets for Terrorism

There are a lot of places that can be targeted by terrorists to conduct an attack. Such places include airports, train stations, bus terminals, ports, hotels, hospitals, clinics, medical centers, post offices, restaurants, resorts, amusement parks, malls, religious places and landmarks, nuclear power plants, natural gas facilities, important buildings and bridges, casinos, subway stations, gas stations, electric power facilities, coal power plants, stadiums, arenas, foreign embassies, educational institutions, railway and highway bridges and so on.