Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Next

Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Next Terror: Assessment of How a Significant Terrorist WMD Attack Might Be Conducted by a Non-State Actors Perpetrator and Why They Can't Stage an Attack

Weapons of Mass Destructions (WMD) have considerable effect to the economies of both developed and developing countries. In the modern world, most terror groups have resolved to use Weapons of Mass Destruction to harm their enemies. The entire syndicate comprises state actors and the terror group, which intends to destroy the target country. The state actors have direct links or channels of communication with such attackers, foreign allies, and several residential alliances with almost similar connections to the terror groups. Most of the terror groups lack essential materials that would aid in the making of some of the most dangerous weapons such as nuclear bombs. The various forms of attack involved when using lethal weapons include dispersion, dissemination, and detonation. Apart from the overview of the topic, the paper seeks to examine and evaluate the review of Literature, the methodology, analysis and findings, and a summary of the fundamental arguments as well as conclusive remarks.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Literature Review

3. Methodology

4. Analysis and Findings

5. Summary and Conclusions

6. References

7. Appendices

Introduction

The threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) falling into the hands of terror groups is one of the greatest challenges to U.S. national security. Such groups would use those weapons indiscriminately against U.S. homeland, partners, allies, or interests abroad. Terrorism has become a global concern particularly following the emergence of several terror groups across the globe

. Most of these groups feature prominently in most retaliatory attacks against their countries or allies. In the contemporary society, terrorists have embarked on making and using weapons of mass destruction against their enemies.

Hypothesis: If the U.S. intervened in an effort to regulate the amount of WMD made by its allies and non-allies as well as review its foreign policy on security, WMD, and terror groups, then incidences of terror attack shall reduce considerably. Since acts of terror results into massive loss of lives and property, the U.S. And allies have put in place mechanisms aimed at enhancing security of their territories and people from dangers of terror attack. Combating terror threats would call for identifying capabilities and desired end states relative to the Weapon of Mass Destruction menace (WMD), working closely with potential partners, identifying the relevant BPC means and ways, and developing a framework essential for assessment of the effectiveness of BPC activities and programs

Purpose Statement

Global security ensures protection of all economies from terrorists and criminals. It has facilitated the achievement of social, economic, cultural, and political programs and ensured such programs are safe. Terrorist attacks and asymmetrical warfare activities have hampered growth and development of several world economies. Retaliatory attacks from renowned terrorist groups have become a major threat to developed and developing countries. This has presumably consumed my studies on information concerning counter-terrorism. In the process of press conferences held by the terrorist groups responding to the efforts of the Veto Power nations, I proactively conducted my survey on situations and theories purported by several authors. According to Cordesman (2002), Terrorism Asymmetric Warfare and Weapons of Mass Destruction, I developed a vast spectrum of the importance of the enhancement of homeland security, especially by the U.S. In counter-attacking terrorists' plans prior WMD attacks. As proposed by the title, the assessment of WMD and the next terror attack is an exploration of provocative facets of study upon security. Arguably, my research pertains the possibility of a major terror attack, warfare tactics aspired to be used and the most likely area of target that terrorist groups opt to destroy, especially worth noting that the leader of the largest terror group, Al Qaeda, was brutally killed; Osama Bin Laden.

Problem Statement

Curbing terrorism in most nations has taken a different turn in events and methodology, especially when various terrorist groups have opted for mass destruction. Such WMD tactics of mass destruction are a threat not only to the target nations but also to the neighboring nations and the continent concerned. Technically, the economies affects become dysfunctional since operational activities on other key sectors such as education, infrastructure, trade and agriculture suffer adverse effects. Such is ill fated to most economies of the world prompting them to invest heavily on security of their borders as well as territories

Research Questions

While economies continue to grapple with security threats originating from terror groups, the making of nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons remains a reality. The first step would require that the U.S. national security in corporation with the UN Security Council embark on curbing illegal manufacture of WMD. Statistics has it that most countries in the Middle East engage in the illegal manufacture of these weapons which terror groups (majority from the Middle East) use in lodging attacks against the U.S., partners, allies, or interests abroad. The fundamental research questions prompting the study include:

1. What are the reasons behind rampant cases of terrorist attacks worldwide?

2. What challenges impede efforts of developing and developed economies across the globe to fight terror groups effectively?

3. What are the economic, social, cultural, and political upshots associated with widespread use of weapons of mass destruction among terror groups?

4. What policy and security measures would help curb the escalating rate of criminal and illegitimate manufacture of Weapons of Mass Destructions (WMD)?

Significance of the Study

Addressing the threat of proliferation of WMD, international cooperation, and interagency. If the current influx of terror groups using lethal weapons against their perceived enemies is anything to do by, then, security cooperation programs are inevitable towards achieving a coherent and peaceful humanity. Countries must embrace the economic, social, cultural, and technological abilities of other countries across the globe. It is high time the U.S., allies, and partners embarked on strategies that would eliminate disharmony and suspicion that has existed between them and their rivals for the past few decades

. Although every country has a right to demonstrate their technological and security advancements as well as improvements in other fields, they should not use their technological power to harm innocent neighbors. In the past, weapons of mass destruction have caused the world more harm than good. This was evident during the Second World War when countries that enjoyed sophisticated weapons such as WDM used them to ruin lives and infrastructure of countries that showed up during the war with little or no lethal weapons to enable them lodge any form of retaliatory attack. The nuclear, chemical, radiological, and biological weapons can kill or cause injuries to huge population of people or cause massive damage to the infrastructure of a country or region

Literature Review

Terror groups have now resolved in the use of weapons of mass destruction. The methodologies enhancing this new tactic involve several stakeholders from state actors with direct links with the terror groups, state proxies, extremists groups from foreign allies and several residential alliances with similar links to the terror groups. From research based information, and from arguable scopes from various authors, the new emerging trend of WMD have been instigated by a new wave of thought by the terror groups that constitutes of potential and grotesque threats and bolstering to enforcements of homeland security in the United States of America. The pattern that the next terror attack will follow especially in retaliating towards the U.S. territory is emergent since it forms a clear basis on the given form to be followed in pursuit of WMD and means to incorporate WMD attacks and the extent of lethality of the weapons on the target area.

A non-state actor perpetrator can conduct a comprehensible assessment yet it does not stage attack. Some non-state actors have nuclear ambitions and involve themselves directly as the actual perpetrators of terrorist attack. Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) have the capacity to inflict destruction and death on a massive scale. The presence of such weapons in the hands of an antagonistic power threatens peace and stability of not only the subject nation but to neighboring countries and the world at large. Modern weapons of mass destruction might fall into any of the three major categories namely biological, chemical or nuclear. The weapons of mass destruction featured prominently during the World War II, particularly in the firebombing of cities such as Tokyo, Japan, and Hamburg, Germany

Dropping of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima towards the end of the Second World War resulted to death of considerable number of civilians (66, 000). However, radiation injuries resulting from the heat of the single nuclear weapon increased the number of casualties to 140, 000 people by the end of the year. The Soviet Union and United States built stockpiles hosting thousands of nuclear bombs, the artillery shells, and missile warheads. Although the WMD remained unused at the end of the Cold War, the enormous stockpiles showed the level of preparedness of the U.S. And the Soviet Union. Chemical weapons comprised liquids as well as gases that suffocate the victims, upset the central nervous system, blister the skin, and poison the blood. Biological weapons include infectious agents such as fungi, viruses and bacteria. Bursting the biological weapons over a populated area might eventually result in the outbreak of deadly diseases such as plague, anthrax, or smallpox. A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Defense indicates a strong correlation between the country's participation on international relations and terrorist assault on it

The assessment might involve a range of states including states with stakes as well as those without interests. Even though countries would work toward realizing peace and stability of their neighbors, it is important for every nation to come on board during the process of charting the destiny of such countries. The short-term as well as long-term effects of terrorism affects both the innocent as well as culprits of terror. The Hiroshima incident is a typical case of how destructive an act of terrorist can be to states, countries or a continent at large . Preliminary results indicated that only about 66,000 people lost their lives due to the atomic bomb. However, the number shot up to a whopping 144,000 as thousands other residents of the city succumbed to the harsh effects of the weapon. It is high time countries corporate in the fight against terrorism in entirety

Terror attacks have devastating and overwhelming effects socially, political, and economically. From the social viewpoint, it is clear that outcomes of terror attack are dire to the physical and psychological development of affected individuals. Apparently, incidents of terror might impair their vision and hearing ability of the victims. The biological, chemical and nuclear weapons have the ability to inflict pain and further damage to the eyesight and the ear thus making it much difficult for the victim to see or comprehend whatever that happens thereafter . The assessment of attack by the terrorist weapon of mass destruction as conducted by the Non-State Actors Perpetrators is a critical as well as significant move. According to researchers in the field of terrorist, any acts of terror require sobriety among the affected states and countries involved in the rescue operations alike

. Many countries might end up using terrorist attack as a way of lodging a retaliatory attack against a neighboring state. Economic sanctions bestowed upon such countries together with short-term and long-term plans to forestall their economies might trigger a retaliatory attack in attempt to redeem its image from imminent collapse.

Several countries have faced countless challenges touching on their future prospects and corporation with their neighbors. The Threats that affect economic, political and social well-being of such countries might prompt leaders to initiate new strategies to ensure it redeem the respective economies from immense collapse. Collapse of such economies might further complicate lives of ordinary citizens. Acts of terror and violence among opposing camps are also responsible for the growth in the level of animosity between nations, especially those allied to the U.S. As well as the non-allies. The Korean Peninsula is a typical example of how the growing discontent and suspicion among manufacturers of weapons of mass destruction as well as countries that do not manufacture such weapons have further created differences. Such differences have substantial implications economically, socially, and politically. The U.S. together with its allies has discouraged North Korea from making weapons of Mass Destruction. However, the North Korean nation had not been willing to corporate towards shunning its plans to increase the volume of nuclear weapons

Although South Korea, a neighboring country has welcomed U.S. move, this has further split the Korean Peninsula. In essence, it has become clear North Korea and South Korea have gone ahead to declare war against each other in a move that would further create another impasse. Other reports indicate a looming crisis in the Middle East as Iran is alleged to engage in the manufacture of the Weapons of Mass Destruction. This has further split the Middle East along political and territorial lines

. The debate is pitting proponents of the move by Americans to discourage Iran from manufacturing such weapons against Iran supporters and sympathizers. According to many of its sympathizers, plans to manufacture Weapons of Mass Destruction are just a security measure against possible ambush by the neighbors and countries from everywhere. American allies however argue that such efforts as propagated by Iran only serve to create discontent, suspicion and confusion in the Middle East. Some nations may also read mischief and bias in the efforts thus abandoning their plans to provide support to America and its allies in their campaigns.

According to Wirtz and Croddy (2005), the option for the use of weapons of mass destruction can be linked to works of theorists, whose propositions issue the potentiality of WMD in causing assured destruction, deterrence (extended) and credible threats. In addition, game theorists inculcate mathematical assumptions in deriving to their assertions, an interesting cover up in the assessment of my research study. Prediction on the next terror is significantly based on the behavioral equilibrium depicted by the terror groups following the resultant implications of previous counter-intuitive.

The U.S. department of defense in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies is curbed by an enormous task of applying defensive mechanisms. These mechanisms ought to be critical in issuing critical assessments on the development of deterrence strategy from the defense forces. According to the game theory, the concept of off-the-equilibrium-path behavior capture the imperative trait of establishing the disparity in security studies especially in deterrence in the utility of weapons of mass destruction and the threats they pose.

The utility of WMD has interested terror groups especially from the intermittent emphasis on their abolishment by the international community. However, as Joyner (2009) asserts in his preliminary study on the proliferation of WMD, treaties by the weapons manufactures in ensuring unnecessary proliferation of the weapons. However, the terror groups have experienced intervention from several western powers, which has adversely led to disagreements to the contents on the treaties. Similarly, destabilization has been felt in states such as Iraq and Afghanistan due to the engagement of foreign policy issues that instigated the change of international and organizational decisions. It is due to this effect that evidence -- based research on the material highly on the use, target areas and forms of attack with weapons of mass destruction are determined in the assessment of the conduction of a WMD terror attack

b) Materials used

According to many scholars, terror groups are not equipped to acquire the required material essential in making the most lethal weapons i.e. nuclear bombs, which fit to be most destructive and feared universally. A lot of time, scientific personnel, expertise and material technology is highly regarded. According to Porterfield, the former Al Qaeda leader released a press statement through the communication cable of the terror group that he had a nuclear weapon, a sentiment that was disregarded by the U.S. state authorities in 2001. For the terror group, the acquisition of WMD is from buying fissionable materials that are used in the manufacturing of the weapons.

The science behind the pertinent materials is crude. The materials brought together in the manufacture of such goods are uranium, fuel rods and plutonium. Terrorists experience hardships in trying to seek and build the nuclear weapons using these materials. The development of the nuclear bombs involves chemical reactions involving radioactive reactions that pose risky to the terrorist prior hitting their targets.

In addition to the nuclear bombs, other weapons are also highly regarded as WMD and are also applicable in terror activities. The equality within the WMD status is due to the futuristic characteristic of large-scale destruction and indiscrimination of their natural effects. In relation to a research program on global security studies by Reed, chemical and biological warfare agents, missile technology, aircraft and ballistic delivery systems are other materials of mass destruction. These materials are an unprecedented constellation that terrorists use in destructing the process of global security. Response towards the usage by the United Stets and other nations has seen the increment of fear over the use of WMDs by terrorists, since the attack in 2001

c) Potential targets

The recent attacks together with the follow-up information from the U.S. department of defense and terror groups provides a vivid clue that the United States and its embassies all over other economies are the potential targets of terror attacks. This is due to the declaration of war on the host countries of the terror groups by U.S. militia

. In addition, the marginalization of Islamic religion in the United States is a perception that has reclaimed revenge from Islam faithful, who claim that it is in accordance with the ill of Allah to fight for their religion through the Jihad war. The possibility of the occurrence of another major terror attack ought to be within the U.S. territories or interests. Following the killing of Osama Bin Laden by the United States and the destruction of a major Al Qaeda base in Somalia by Kenyan troops, retaliation attacks are scheduled to enormously hit the two mentioned nations. Surprisingly, in 2001 and 1998 terror attacks were launched upon the U.S. And Kenya respectively, causing massive destruction. Consequentially, next terror attacks will proactively depict vengeance and massive utility of WMD. Investigation has attributed these weapons to the production of effects that allegedly spread beyond the targeted areas

Methodology

Study Design and Framework

This research studies is occurs in a large area since the field under research on is a complex field involving different complicated and sensitive information. This call for different research methodologies since areas under research requires different research methods. The methodologies applicable in this research include observation, use of questionnaires, and interviews. Researching on Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Next Terror: Assessment of How a Significant Terrorist WMD involves the security agencies, areas mostly affected by terror and terrorist attacks, and locals of the affected areas. Interviews respondents include the security agencies, the locals in the most affected areas commonly hit by terrorists' attacks (Kumar, 2005)

These interviews involves asking open ended questions where the respondents give feedback according to the knowledge they have and any information, which may be useful in uncovering the truth pertaining to the thesis of the research. Interviewing the locals may not require any prior preparation since it is easy to come across individuals willing to give his or her point-of-view concerning terror and terrorist attacks. This is possible because with the research the locals hope that a lasting solution can be realized and peace in these areas achieved. However, conducting interviews in the security agencies or interviewing the concerned security persons requires booking of appointments before the actual date of the interviews

. Persons conducting the research interviews ought to make early appointments with the intended respondents to avoid late minute frustrations that may paralyze the research process. The researcher has to find out the best time for conducting the interviews and book appointments. Interview prospects in this study may include head of security agencies and other staff members, government officials in charge of security and foreign affairs, and specialists in the field of terror activities and nuclear weapons. The research design also involves observation. Researchers make observation of events taking place in the areas of concern in with the research topic.

Past terror, attacks using nuclear weapons are rare but their aftermath is devastating. In the late 1980s, china experienced a nuclear attack in her soil, which left devastating effects felt up to the current times. Such effects include difficulty in breathing, blindness, and genetics modifications in newborn children among other effects. Nuclear war threats experiences occur in the world with countries threatening one another with stern retaliation in case of attacks. Countries such as Iran, North Korea, and Iraq at some point faced world trade sanctions resulting from nuclear weapon plants suspicions (Thomas, 2003).

With these events, one can predict that in the future nuclear war outbreak is likely to occur in the world with involvements of terrorists and world governments. The effects of such war will lead to more devastating effects if not addressed.