America's Achilles' Heel: Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Terrorism and Covert Attack

Belfer Center Studies in International Security

by Richard A. Falkenrath, Robert D Newman, Bradley A. Thayer

This volume analyzes the nature and limits of the covert NBC threat and proposes a measured set of policy responses, focused on improving intelligence and consequence-management capabilities to reduce U.S. vulnerability.

Nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) weapons delivered covertly by terrorists or hostile governments pose a significant and growing threat to the United States and other countries. Although the threat of NBC attack is widely recognized as a central national security issue, most analysts have assumed that the primary danger is military use by states in war, with traditional military means of delivery. The threat of covert attack has been imprudently neglected.

Covert attack is hard to deter or prevent, and NBC weapons suitable for covert attack are available to a growing range of states and groups hostile to the United States. At the same time, constraints on their use appear to be eroding. This volume analyzes the nature and limits of the covert NBC threat and proposes a measured set of policy responses, focused on improving intelligence and consequence-management capabilities to reduce U.S. vulnerability.

Genres: Military Fiction

354 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 1998

Reviews

[Hans]

Reads almost like a "How To" manual with a long list of vulnerabilities that would be easy to target if anyone was competent enough to pull it off. I agree with the Author's assessment that it isn't a matter of 'if' but 'when'. A terrorist only has to succeed once, while the Intel, Defense and Emergency Responder Community has to be spot on 100% of the time. The biggest assets that the US has is its own people, who, if properly prepared will be not only the greatest asset in preventing such an attack but help build a culture of resiliency. The greatest obstacle to prevention is Complacency, which unfortunately is hardest thing to overcome. Thus most of the recommendations will likely only be taken seriously retro-actively in the wake of a devastating attack.

[J.A. Magenheimer]

This book is dated. While it may have been very accurate at time of publication, the fact that it reflects little in the way of incorporating post 9/11 learnings and changes in the government is a significant pitfall.