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

also been confluences in the international political environment: the end of the Cold
War has coincided with a greater understanding of our collective weaknesses and
feelings
of vulnerability and insecurity. This understanding provides a firm
foundation to re-examine the assessment of nuclear and radiological terrorism and
counter measures found in this paper. This assessment ultimately leads to a series of
conclusions which, it is hoped, will prove insightful and useful for addressing this
frightening threat.
Assessing Nuclear and Radiological Terrorism
It is appropriate to address the two issues separately. Each weapon has individual
characteristics. Nuclear weapons manifest massive immediate damage to health and
the destruction of property. They also have significant delayed effects which can
cause considerable health and environmental concerns. Radiological weapons on the
other hand have
minimal immediate effect. Their primary threat comes from the fear
their use would incite – more people would likely be injured or killed in the panic to
flee than by an actual device. Although they do share delayed affects with nuclear
weapons, they will be of a different magnitude and will prompt different response
measures. Splitting up the two types of weapon in this manner allows for the
identification of three scenarios for the use of nuclear weapons and three scenarios
for the use of radiological weapons.
Nuclear weapon scenarios include:
• The theft or purchase of a nuclear weapon;
• The construction of an improvised nuclear device;
• Indirect nuclear attack by damaging or sabotaging a nuclear facility.
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