A new book argues that worries about terrorists gaining possession of nuclear weapons is hype, media fear-mongering and sensationalism.
The book titled “Will Terrorists Go Nuclear?” was authored by Brian Michael Jenkins, a senior adviser to the president of Rand Corp., a Washington-area think tank.
Jenkins argues that unwarranted fear should be replaced by rational discussion, and that the quickest way for a terrorist group to obtain a nuke would be to steal it from the stockpiles of the former Soviet Union.
But, Jenkins argues, corrupt stewards of the stockpiles wouldn’t likely sell nukes to terrorists, because such a theft would be punished severely.
Meanwhile, U.S. leaders have assigned the Missile Defense Agency to erect a multi-layered missile defense system to guard against nuclear-tipped missiles launched by rogue nations, or by terrorists in a ship off the East or West Coast of the United States.
Also, the United States is offering Russia money and assistance to help reduce and neutralize its stockpile of nuclear weapons.
Finally, U.S. financial agencies are attempting to freeze the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of accounts once held by Osama bin Laden, leader of al Qaeda, the terrorist group that executed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.