Updating Our Strategy for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction

Abstract

In 2002, the National Security Council recognized the change in our greatest threat to the nation and prepared the first comprehensive strategy to limit the dangers posed by Weapons of Mass Destruction. This strategy provides a comprehensive approach relying heavily on both diplomacy and military strength. It leverages means already available to our nation while adding several critical new aspects. Nearly four years later the Joint Staff published a National Military Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction. Like the National Strategy it relied on means already in existence or in development and lessons learned during the interim period. To date the US State Department had worked to advance efforts such as Proliferation Security Initiative. However, it is unclear that actions across all elements of national power are synchronized or inclusive of the entire interagency with regard to Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction. Now seven years into the strategy it is time to review the strategy identify what is working well, and what aspects require updating, such as possibly a framework for national level synchronization.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA498274

Entities

People

  • Patrick R. Terrell

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter WMD

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arms Control Treaties
  • Biological Weapons
  • Chemical Warfare
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • International Relations
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Security
  • Terrorists
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • War Colleges
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies