A call for help. Collaboration with community officials is key

Area of Science:

• Homeland Security
• Terrorism Studies
• Public Health Preparedness

Background:

• The U.S. government is engaged in a war against terrorism, confronting an elusive and unconventional enemy.
• Conventional terrorist tactics like bombings are a concern, but WMD threats are particularly troubling.
• The aftermath of biological, chemical, or nuclear attacks presents unique and severe challenges for response and recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the multifaceted nature of terrorist threats facing the U.S.
• To underscore the particular concern posed by weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
• To emphasize the complex challenges associated with responding to WMD attacks.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of government counter-terrorism strategies.
• Assessment of conventional versus unconventional threat tactics.
• Review of potential consequences of WMD attacks.

Main Results:

• Terrorist threats are characterized by elusiveness and unconventional tactics.
• Biological, chemical, and nuclear attacks represent a particularly grave concern.
• The aftermath of WMD incidents requires specialized and extensive preparedness.

Conclusions:

• Effective counter-terrorism requires addressing both conventional and WMD threats.
• Robust preparedness for biological, chemical, and nuclear incidents is crucial.
• The U.S. government faces significant challenges in mitigating and responding to WMD terrorism.