Pros And Cons Of Nuclear Terrorism

Two main theorists of international relations, Kenneth Waltz and Scott Sagan have been debating on the issue of nuclear weapons and the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the 21st century. In their book The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: An Enduring Debate, they both discuss their various theories, assumptions and beliefs on nuclear proliferation and nuclear weapons. To examine why states would want to attain/develop a nuclear weapon and if increasing nuclear states is a good or bad thing. In my paper, I will discuss both of their theories and use a case study to illustrate which theory I agree with and then come up with possible solutions of preventing a nuclear war from occurring.

Since the invention of nuclear weapons, they have presented the world with a significant danger, one that was shown in reality during the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, nuclear weapons have not only served in combat, but they have also played a role in keeping the world peaceful by the concept of deterrence. The usage of nuclear weapons would lead to mutual destruction and during the Cold War, nuclear weapons were necessary to maintain international security, as a means of deterrence. However, by the end of the Cold War, reliance on nuclear weapons for maintaining peace became increasingly difficult and less effective (Shultz, et. al, 2007). The development of technology has also provided increasing opportunities for states

As noted by them, after the successful creation of an invention, it is common to see it be easily replicated at a far lesser cost. The world becomes more dangerous as countries continue to develop their nuclear arms in secret. The country who first brings its nuclear arms into the light will gain the upper hand, even if only temporary. It is best that the information on nuclear arms is exposed in order for every country to be aware of the weapons their neighboring countries hold. The reports that have arrived have also painted a dire picture with their large number of

In the memoir of the Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson said, “ I was informed that such operations might be expected to cost over a million casualties, to american forces alone” (Stimson). By the people who set the bomb will be killed because of the explosions which would cost a lot of people lives be lost. In 1949, General H.H.

The first use of nuclear weaponry in warfare occurred on the morning of August 6, 1945 when the United States dropped the atomic bomb known as “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, Japan. The result was devastating, demonstrating the true power of nuclear warfare. Since the incident, the world has been left fearing the possible calamity of another nuclear war. Joseph Siracusa’s Nuclear Weapons: A Very Short Introduction explains aspects of nuclear weaponry from simply what a nuclear weapon is, to the growing fear from nuclear warfare advancements in an age of terrorism. The book furthered my education on nuclear weapons and the effect they place on society, physically and mentally.

Blackwell acknowledges the debate between the credibility of nuclear deterrence and argues the change in the logic of deterrence in current situations from the one in the Cold War. He provides data that explains the trend of the reduction of US nuclear weapons, which is , he argues, continually changing the circumstances in nuclear deterrence.

Great post this week, it was very interesting. The chances that a terrorist organization could build their own nuclear weapon without nobody noticing it are very low. Terrorist do not have the money nor the infrastructure necessary to do it (American Public University, 2016). The only way in which I could see terrorists carrying out a nuclear attack anywhere in the world is if Iran or North Korea provides terrorist with a nuclear weapon. That is also very unlikely because those nuclear states know that after the nuclear attack, the uranium will be traced back to the country that facilitated the nuclear weapon. This will result in retaliation and probably in a nuclear attack from another state. Therefore, as much as they would like to facilitate

The Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) could also be produced using much larger quantities of lower grade, less enriched U-235 and this device can burn its entire mass, instantly and efficiently. It is possible that a terrorist group can build a nuclear weapon or can purchase the same.

In today’s world, the way a nation reigns superior above all other nations can be traced back to their nuclear stockpile. The possession of nuclear arms has become a notable problem amongst global powers and small, undeveloped nations because of the potential arms race that could ignite, raising significant concern in national security. Furthermore, countless arguments have been made by researchers suggesting that the injection and possession of nuclear weapons has had a beneficial impact on the nature of society because it keeps nations from challenging one another. One of these arguments being the Nuclear deterrence theory which “constitutes a potent argument in favor of maintaining existing nuclear arsenals (that is, deterrence contributing

Detaining suspected terrorists can prevent nuclear proliferation. Nuclear ingredients are widely available to terrorists. There are 1,600,000 kg of HEU available in the global stockpile.(Allison) The global stockpile of Pu- 500,000 kg.(Allison) From this, terrorists can easily buy, steal, and construct crude nuclear bombs. Terrorists have already tried to obtain ingredients and very well can. There are five terrorist groups that are capable of acquiring and using nuclear weapons: al Qaeda, North Caucasus-based separists, Lashka-e-tayyib, Hezbollah, Taliban.(Allison) The number of terrorist groups that have demonstrated interest in acquiring nuclear weapons/materials: 4; al Qaeda, Chechnya-based separists, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Aum Shinrikyo.(Allison) The number of terrorists groups that have already attempted to buy nuclear materials on the black market: 2; al Qaeda, Aum Shinriko.(Allison)

Terrorist organizations are more likely develop one of the two “simpler” types of bomb designs - gun type weapon or implosion configuration. Gun- type weapon, is the simplest form of using fission weapon. It shoots one piece of subcritical uranium mass into another. Once the neutrons start the chain reaction, the reaction speeds up with

Requiring a lot of skills and resources, many terrorist groups lack the incentive to engage in radiological terrorism, until recently. The creation of a radiological weapon dates back as early as 1941, where the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) mixing radiological warfare and bombs together. Combining the two ideas together, the NAS hoped to affect as many enemies as possible with radiation without any casualty from their side (Ford 1998). Not to get confuse with nuclear weapons, radiological weapons intentionally adds in airborne radioactive material in a bomb. So, when the radioactive bomb detonates, the radioactivity could be spread far and wide. With nuclear weapons, more explosive ingredients are added, radiation is just a byproduct. The explosion of a nuclear bomb can flatten entire cities in seconds. In a nuclear bomb, energy is produced and released in a short amount of time, creating a massive explosion. Whereas, the physical explosive from a radiological weapon is only “limited to the amount of damage that can be caused by the bomb itself” (Karam, 2005). But the radiation is well spread out to the surrounding area.

A nuclear bomb cannot be just considered as in the negative aspect but positively too. A nuclear bomb has some advantages. Firstly, nuclear energy produces less air pollution compared to burning oil, gas, and coal because when the use of Nuclear energy is increased than the air pollution is eventually decreased. Secondly, no carbon dioxide is produced. Further, the use of nuclear energy has a great outcome, a small amount of fuel can provide massive energy. Lastly, it is reliable and safe; leaves small amounts of waste, but the waste disposal is deadly dangerous.

The abundance of nuclear weapons or radiological dispersal devices that terrorist groups have is perhaps one of the most terrifying threats to U.S. security. Radiological dispersal devices (RDD) are also known as dirty bombs. They are made of radioactive material combined with conventional explosives. They are intended to use explosive strength to scatter radioactive material over a large area (Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDD) / Dirty Bombs, 2009). Around the world, there are a lot of sources of radioactive material that are not sheltered or not accounted for. Dishonest nations and terrorist groups can get hold of these materials for dirty bombs. These volatile weapons may primarily kill a few people in the direct area of the blast but are utilized primarily to create psychological rather than physical damage by stirring up panic and terror. Their utilization would also consequence in expensive cleanup for decontamination (Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDD) / Dirty Bombs, 2009).

There have been many accidents involving nuclear weapons. As far as we know, a nuclear weapon has never been accidentally detonated (worst case scenario) although there have been close calls. In the 21st century around $40 billion a year, or 10 per cent of the annual US military budget, is spent on