Deterrence of Nuclear Terrorism Via Post-detonation Attribution

Deterrence of Nuclear Terrorism Via Post-detonation Attribution PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Deterrence (Strategy)
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
As nuclear terrorism is a risk of low probability and high consequences, the United States is right to address it as a significant--but not the utmost--national security priority. The science of nuclear forensics makes possible the characterization of nuclear materials used in a nuclear attack, and, as such, provides the backbone of an attribution program. Nuclear forensics-based attribution serves the dual purpose of helping to prevent nuclear terrorism by enabling deterrence, as well as guiding and enabling postattack response options in the event of deterrence failure. The deterrence that an attribution capability alone enables is fairly narrow in its effective scope, though this deterrence does cover what would otherwise be a critical gap in U.S. strategy for preventing nuclear terrorism. The U.S. attribution capability is currently lacking in several important regards, the most significant of which is a future dearth of highly qualified personnel. Since an attribution capability is a critical enabler, the United States must do more to efficiently develop its attribution program. This can be done most costeffectively in the short term by focusing on unilateral program needs while building an enduring domestic political will to improve and then maintain the nation's attribution capability.

Deterrence of Nuclear Terrorism Via Post-detonation Attribution

Deterrence of Nuclear Terrorism Via Post-detonation Attribution PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Deterrence (Strategy)
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
As nuclear terrorism is a risk of low probability and high consequences, the United States is right to address it as a significant--but not the utmost--national security priority. The science of nuclear forensics makes possible the characterization of nuclear materials used in a nuclear attack, and, as such, provides the backbone of an attribution program. Nuclear forensics-based attribution serves the dual purpose of helping to prevent nuclear terrorism by enabling deterrence, as well as guiding and enabling postattack response options in the event of deterrence failure. The deterrence that an attribution capability alone enables is fairly narrow in its effective scope, though this deterrence does cover what would otherwise be a critical gap in U.S. strategy for preventing nuclear terrorism. The U.S. attribution capability is currently lacking in several important regards, the most significant of which is a future dearth of highly qualified personnel. Since an attribution capability is a critical enabler, the United States must do more to efficiently develop its attribution program. This can be done most costeffectively in the short term by focusing on unilateral program needs while building an enduring domestic political will to improve and then maintain the nation's attribution capability.

Deterring State Sponsorship of Nuclear Terrorism

Deterring State Sponsorship of Nuclear Terrorism PDF Author: Michael A. Levi
Publisher: Council on Foreign Relations
ISBN: 0876094191
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 48

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Book Description
The basis of nuclear doctrine during the Cold War was deterrence.Nuclear powers were deterred from attacking each other by the fear of retaliation. Today, much of the concern over possible nuclear attack comes in the context of rogue states and terrorism. And since only states are known to possess nuclear weapons, an important question is how to deter them from letting terrorists acquire a device, whether through an authorized transfer or a security breach.Michael A. Levi analyzes this aspect of deterrence in the post-Cold War world, as well as what to do if deterrence breaks down. He suggests how to discourage states from giving weapons or nuclear materials to terrorists and how to encourage states to bolster security against any accidental transfer. The report also discusses the role of nuclear attribution-the science of identifying the origin of nuclear materials-in deterring transfers, an essential link in assigning responsibility to governments for transfers of nuclear materials.Deterring State Sponsorship of Nuclear Terrorism offers thoughtful analysis and practical guidelines for U.S. policy on a complex and important question and makes an important contribution to the thinking in an underexplored but unavoidable area of the post-Cold War security debate.

The Deterrence of Nuclear Terrorism Through an Attribution Capability

The Deterrence of Nuclear Terrorism Through an Attribution Capability PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Nuclear activation analysis
Languages : en
Pages : 49

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Book Description
The state of the world is such that the pace of nuclear weapons proliferation appears to be increasing. The growing number of nuclear states and amount of nuclear material available poses a great challenge to those that would attempt to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists and other non-state actors. This study examines how the development of a nuclear attribution capability using the tools and methods of nuclear forensics can address that challenge. The prevention of nuclear terrorism is a multi-front battle. One of these fronts is preventing state sponsorship of nuclear terrorism. This can most likely be accomplished through deterrent policies where severe and credible military action is threatened against would be nuclear sponsors. However, such threats only have meaning if the sponsors are convinced that their participation could be detected. Therefore there is a need for a credible means to determine the source of nuclear materials from the debris of a nuclear explosion. The current state of a national nuclear forensics capability is lacking. There is a need for a more robust database of known nuclear materials, as well as a need for organizational restructuring and equipment development.

Performance Metrics for the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture

Performance Metrics for the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309290171
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 105

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Book Description
The Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA) is described as a worldwide network of sensors, telecommunications, and personnel, with the supporting information exchanges, programs, and protocols that serve to detect, analyze, and report on nuclear and radiological materials that are out of regulatory control. The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), an office within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), coordinates the development of the GNDA with its federal partners. Performance Metrics for the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture considers how to develop performance measures and quantitative metrics that can be used to evaluate the overall effectiveness and report on progress toward meeting the goals of the GNDA. According to this report, two critical components are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the GNDA: a new strategic plan with outcome-based metrics and an analysis framework to enable assessment of outcome-based metrics. The GNDA is a complex system of systems meant to deter and detect attempts to unlawfully transport radiological or nuclear material. The recommendations of Performance Metrics for the Performance Metrics for the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture may be used to improve the GNDA strategic plan and the reporting of progress toward meeting its goals during subsequent review cycles.

Tailored Deterrence

Tailored Deterrence PDF Author: Barry R. Schneider
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780974740386
Category : Arms control
Languages : en
Pages : 466

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Book Description


Thinking about Deterrence

Thinking about Deterrence PDF Author: Air Univeristy Press
Publisher: Military Bookshop
ISBN: 9781782667100
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description
With many scholars and analysts questioning the relevance of deterrence as a valid strategic concept, this volume moves beyond Cold War nuclear deterrence to show the many ways in which deterrence is applicable to contemporary security. It examines the possibility of applying deterrence theory and practice to space, to cyberspace, and against non-state actors. It also examines the role of nuclear deterrence in the twenty-first century and reaches surprising conclusions.

Deterring Terrorism

Deterring Terrorism PDF Author: Andreas Wenger
Publisher: Stanford University Press
ISBN: 0804783470
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 353

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Book Description
During the Cold War, deterrence theory was the cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, however, popular wisdom dictated that terrorist organizations and radical fanatics could not be deterred—and governments shifted their attention to combating terrorism rather than deterring it. This book challenges that prevailing assumption and offers insight as to when and where terrorism can be deterred. It first identifies how and where theories of deterrence apply to counterterrorism, highlighting how traditional and less-traditional notions of deterrence can be applied to evolving terrorist threats. It then applies these theoretical propositions to real-world threats to establish the role deterrence has within a dynamic counterterrorism strategy—and to identify how metrics can be created for measuring the success of terrorism deterrence strategies. In sum, it provides a foundation for developing effective counterterrorism policies to help states contain or curtail the terrorism challenges they face.

Nuclear Forensic Analysis

Nuclear Forensic Analysis PDF Author: Kenton J. Moody
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 143988062X
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 516

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Book Description
Now in its second edition, Nuclear Forensic Analysis provides a multidisciplinary reference for forensic scientists, analytical and nuclear chemists, and nuclear physicists in one convenient source. The authors focus particularly on the chemical, physical, and nuclear aspects associated with the production or interrogation of a radioactive sample.

Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century

Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century PDF Author: Thérèse Delpech
Publisher: Rand Corporation
ISBN: 0833059440
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 197

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Book Description
Deterrence remains a primary doctrine for dealing with the threat of nuclear weapons in the 21st century. The author reviews the history of nuclear deterrence and calls for a renewed intellectual effort to address the relevance of concepts such as first strike, escalation, extended deterrence, and other Cold War-era strategies in today's complex world of additional superpowers, smaller nuclear powers, and nonstate actors.

Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act

Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Forensic sciences
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Book Description