Global Jihad: temi, piste di diffusione e il fenomeno del reducismo ...

1.2 The “Way”
Terrorist desire to obtain NR weaponry, technology and materials, and their
willingness to use them becomes a greater concern when there exists the means by
which to acquire them. Insufficient safeguards, security and controls, the existence of
nuclear and radiological smuggling, illicit trafficking and organised crime networks,
and the wide availability of radiological sources and materials all contribute to this
significant danger.
1.2.1 Nuclear weapons and materials surety
Nuclear weapons surety is “the materiel, personnel, and procedures that contribute to the
safety, security, reliability and control of nuclear weapons, thus assuring no nuclear
accidents, incidents, unauthorized use, or degradation in performance.” 142 It should be
clarified that the terms “incidents” and “unauthorized use” in
essence refer to
nuclear weapons sabotage, theft, diversion and loss. Although intact nuclear
weapons are most often well-secured and protected by stringent security and
accounting procedures and mechanisms, the significant threats of nuclear theft and
diversion remain, particularly in countries such
as the Russian Federation and in the
NIS. Whilst nuclear security has vastly improved across the globe, largely due to
focussed initiatives such as the Global Threat Reduction Initiative and the
Cooperative Threat Reduction programmes of the US and EU, security upgrades are
urity are daunting. 143
incomplete at many sites, and the challenges to effective sec
142 http://www.acq.osd.mil/ncbdp/nm/nuclearweaponssurety.html [last accessed 02.10.06]
143 Bunn, W., and Weir, A., Securing the Bomb 2006, Nuclear Threat Initiative: July 2006, Executive Summary
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