[ RadSafe ] Nuclear Terrorism: Weapons for Sale or Theft?

[A Karam]

All of these arguments against the risk of radiological or nuclear terrorism are compelling.  Unfortunately, the final word is that of the terrorists.  Osama bin Laden made it clear in a public statement in the mid-90s that he considers it an obligation to procure and use nuclear weapons against the US and/or its allies.  RDD designs and (apparently) guidelines for their use were found in Afghanistan following the overthrow of the Taliban.  
 
Our government overstated the case for Iraqi WMD, but bin Laden's statement was public and has not yet been withdrawn (to the best of my knowledge).  So it seems prudent to assume that, regardless of how likely we consider such an attack to be, there are those who are intent on carrying one out and who will do so if the opportunity presents itself.
 
Andy
 
P. Andrew Karam, Ph.D., CHP
Research Assistant Professor
Rochester Institute of Technology