Weapons of Mass Destruction - U.S. Policy for 21st Century Challenges

Abstract

Since the end of the Cold War asymmetric threats continue to usurp conventional battlefield challenges as a significant danger to US national interests. Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) pose the most catastrophic impact as a prolific non-traditional security threat. To date, the world has seen and reacted to WMD attacks on a manageable scale. This paper discusses the background and current environment of the use of WMD by rogue states and radical terrorist groups and the potential success of a massive future WMD attack on the US at home and abroad. It will conclude with recommended policy to counter the cataclysmic impact a WMD strike would have on the United States domestically and as a global leader.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 10, 2001
Accession Number
ADA391067

Entities

People

  • Robert Ortiz-abreu Jr

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arms Control
  • Arms Control Treaties
  • Biological Weapons
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Department Of Defense
  • First Responders
  • Fissile Materials
  • Governments
  • Health Services
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Terrorists
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.