Over a decade has passed since the infamous 9/11 attacks halted the greatest nation on earth, leaving a wake of fear, questions, and uncertainties. International security in the twenty-first century has been marked by the diffusion of technological and ideological weaponry, bringing along with it new risks that were inconceivable a mere generation ago. The most fearsome of all, is the risk that an extremist terrorist group, rather than a nation-state, could trigger the first nuclear war in history. This, however, is not recent news, with violent extremist organizations, such as al-Qaida, having voiced their interest in utilizing nuclear weapons against western states for well over a decade. Although this potential threat is not from a nuclear-armed state, the risk of a catastrophic nuclear attack seems to increase with each passing day. Scholars, politicians, and most importantly, citizens continuously spend time and energy looking into the possible actions of various terrorist organizations, including those with the potential to acquire nuclear capabilities. This constant fear is understandable considering the massive stockpiles of nuclear material that is left unprotected worldwide. Scholars suggest that the current availability of “weapons-usable” material is capable of supplying an estimated 120,000 nuclear weapons. Keeping this in mind, it is very clear to see why deterrence has continued to be a priority in the U.S. national strategy to prevent a nuclear attack.
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National Security Strategy:
There is no greater threat to the American people than weapons of mass destruction, particularly the danger posed by the pursuit of nuclear weapons by violent extremists and their proliferation to additional
National Security Strategy:
There is no greater threat to the American people than weapons of mass destruction, particularly the danger posed by the pursuit of nuclear weapons by violent extremists and their proliferation to additional