Near Term Future of Terrorism in the U.S free essay sample

What is the terrorist group most likely to strike within the United States in the next five years? What method or means will this group probably use to carry out the attack and what is the most effective means of countering the attack? Near-Term Future of Terrorism in the U. S. 2 Abstract Terrorists are likely to use a weapon of mass destruction somewhere in the world in the next five years. We will write a custom essay sample on Near Term Future of Terrorism in the U.S or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They are more likely to use a biological weapon than a nuclear one and the results could be devastating. The consequences of a biological attack are almost beyond comprehension. It would be 9/11 times 10 or a hundred in terms of the number of people who would be killed, according to Senator Bob Graham. Near-Term Future of Terrorism in the U. S. 3 An investigation by the US Congress into weapons of mass destruction made a chilling prediction of terrorists mounting an attack using biological or nuclear weapons within the next five years. The six month inquiry mentioned Pakistan as one of the likeliest sources of such an attack. The target could be the U. S. or some other part of the world. The report by the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction, said â€Å"unless the world community acts decisively and with great urgency, it is more likely than not that a weapon of mass destruction will be used in a terrorist attack somewhere in the world by the end of 2013†. Terrorists are more likely to be able to obtain and use a biological weapon than a nuclear weapon. An overwhelming majority believes that there is a significant likelihood of further terrorist attacks on U. S. soil and expresses concern and worry about the prospect. About half worry that a close friend or relative will be a victim of an attack, but only a minority are concerned that it would happen in their community. The onset of military action in Afghanistan has not led to notable changes in these attitudes. Though traditional attacks, such as truck bombs, are seen as the most likely terrorist threat, the majority believes that terrorists have access to weapons of mass destruction and are likely to use them at some point. Of these weapons, chemical and biological agents are seen as a greater danger than nuclear arms, and concern about a chemical or biological attack has grown over the past weeks. Americans have been fairly pessimistic about the prospect of eliminating terrorist attacks for some time. Today’s terrorists can strike at any place, at any time and with virtually any weapon. But if it is so easy to pull off an attack and if terrorists are so demonically competent, why have they not Near-Term Future of Terrorism in the U. S. 4 done it? Why have they not been sniping at people in shopping centers, collapsing tunnels, poisoning the food supply, cutting electrical lines, derailing trains, blowing up oil pipelines, causing massive traffic jams, or exploiting the countless other vulnerabilities that, according to security experts, could so easily be exploited. One reasonable explanation is that almost no terrorists exist in the United States and few have the means or the inclination to strike from abroad. However, this explanation is rarely offered. Instead, Americans are often told by the same people who had once predicted imminent attacks that the absence of international terrorist strikes in the United States is owed to the protective measures so hastily and expensively put in place after 9/11. For the past five years, Americans have been regularly regaled with dire predictions of another major Al Qaeda attack in the United States. In 2003, a group of 200 senior government officials and business executives, many of them specialists in security and terrorism, pronounced it likely that a terrorism strike more devastating than 9/11. The leadership of this country and the world will have to decide how much of a priority they place on avoiding the worst weapons in the world getting in the hands of the worst people in the world. It is not going to be cheap. It is not going to be accomplished without some sacrifices. It won’t be accomplished without putting this issue ahead of some other competing national and international goals. However, I think our safety and security depend upon doing so. A biological attack is more likely than a nuclear attack because biological weapons are more available, according to a CNN panel. Anthrax is a natural product of dead animals. Other serious pathogens are available in equally accessible forms. There are so many scientists who have the skills to convert a pathogen from benign, helpful purposes into an illicit, very harmful weapon. However, the commission warned that there is also Near-Term Future of Terrorism in the U. S. 5 a threat of nuclear terrorism, both because more countries are developing nuclear weapons and because some existing nuclear powers are expanding their arsenals. Terrorist organizations are intent on acquiring nuclear weapons. It cited testimony before the commission from former Senator Sam Nunn, who said that the risk of a nuclear weapon being used today is growing, not receding. The risk from biological or nuclear weapons was higher than skeptical foreign policy and defense analysts have so far suggested. Those analysts had pointed out to the complexity of transporting such weapons and the limitations of a nuclear dirty bomb, whose radius of damage is minimum compared with missile delivered warheads. The report disagreed, saying that no mission could be timelier. The simple reality is that the risks that confront us today are evolving faster than our multi layered responses. Many thousands of dedicated people across all agencies of our government are working hard to protect this country, and their efforts have had a positive impact. However, the terrorists have been active, too and in our judgment America’s margin of safety is shrinking, not growing. Despite all the ominous warnings of wily terrorists and imminent attacks, there has been neither a successful strike nor a close call in the United States since 9/11. The reasonable, but rarely heard explanation is that there are no terrorists within the United States, and few have the means or the inclination to strike from abroad.